HIV testing and diagnoses drop during COVID-19 pandemic
HPCP gets a fair amount of comments on our social media platforms about why are there more ads for HIV testing in Pennsylvania. We’ve also been hearing a lot about unscientific, unfounded connections between COVID vaccines and HIV. The *real* connection to the need for more testing and COVID is that people stopped getting tested […]
COVID 19 Impact: Cases of Gonorrhea, syphilis, and Congenital Syphilis Surpass 2019 Levels
From medical.net… Reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States decreased during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but most resurged by the end of that year. Ultimately, reported cases of gonorrhea, syphilis, and congenital syphilis surpassed 2019 levels, while chlamydia declined, according to new data published today by […]
CDC: People who are immunocompromised should get an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine
From HIV.gov… The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised get an additional dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine after the initial two doses. Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic. This includes: Recipients of organ or stem cell transplants People with advanced or […]
How Does COVID-19 Affect People with HIV?
From HIV.gov… We are still learning about COVID-19 and how it affects people with HIV. This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and scientists are learning more every day. Visit COVID-19 and HIV FAQs from CDC for the latest information. Feeling sick? Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19. Most people […]
NASTAD: COVID-19’s impact on PrEP/PEP and sexual health services
NASTAD, in collaboration with the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), released “One Year Later: COVID-19’s Impact on PrEP/PEP and Sexual Health Services.” This resource explores the impact COVID-19 has had on the provision of sexual health and HIV prevention services over the last year. This reflection piece details the many challenges and opportunities COVID-19 […]
People living with HIV can get COVID 19 vaccine now
A message from Rob Ghormoz, Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Governor… The Pennsylvania Department of Health today will announce two additional categories of eligible individuals to receive the COVID-19 vaccination as part of Phase 1A. Beginning today, all individuals 65 and older, and individuals ages 16-64 with certain medical conditions, as defined by the Centers […]
How the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting another epidemic among teens: STDs | Expert Opinion
2020 marks the fifth consecutive year of increasing rates of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis in the U.S. From The Philadelphia Inquirer… While the eyes of the nation are on the coronavirus pandemic, another threat to public health has been steadily growing in the United States. We’ve been battling rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI) […]
Protect yourself from the Flu: Important info for people with HIV
From HIV.gov… Getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. When you get vaccinated, you reduce your risk of getting sick with flu and possibly being hospitalized or dying from flu. This season, getting a flu vaccine has the added benefit of reducing the overall burden […]
Sex and COVID-19
It may seem obvious that if a person is infected with COVID-19, they risk infecting others during sex. But people still have a lot of questions. Here’s an excerpt on the topic form the Mayo Clinic Website: The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets […]
STD rates likely skyrocketing in US as fewer people get tested during pandemic
From businessinsider.com… As clinics and health departments across the country have shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic, the nation’s roughly 2,200 disease detectives, the so-called “contact tracers” of infectious disease outbreaks, have been re-deployed to track where cases of COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — are spreading, to try to stop those outbreaks in […]