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) […]
Health Alert: Rates of new HIV infection still on the rise among specific groups
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… In 2018, 37,968 people received an HIV diagnosis in the United States (US) and dependent areas. From 2014 to 2018, HIV diagnoses decreased 7% among adults and adolescents. However, annual diagnoses have increased among some groups. Gay and bisexual men are the population most affected by HIV, […]
Scaling up HIV Prevention Services in STD Specialty Clinics
From HIV.gov… Combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia reached an all-time high in the United States in 2018, reaching 2.4 million cases. This marked the fifth consecutive year of sharp increases in STDs. For more than a century, sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics have provided critical prevention and care for these common infections. Today, […]
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 […]
Health screening for gay men on PrEP falling behind recommended standards
From aidsmap.com… Levels of sexual health screening among gay men taking PrEP fall well below recommended levels, investigators from the United States report in the online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Rates of testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the rectum and throat – which can be asymptomatic – were especially low, so too testing […]
STD Testing Rates, Service Receipt Among HIV-Positive MSM Remain Low
From the American Journal of Managed Care… The CDC recommends regular testing for bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among all sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) because they have a higher risk of infection. Chief among these STDs are gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Those most […]
New Interim NIH Guidelines for people living with HIV regarding the COVID-19 pandemic
From the National Institutes of Health and Human Services… New guidelines have been set by the NIH in regards to persons living with HIV. This interim guidance reviews special considerations for persons with HIV and their health care providers in the United States regarding COVID-19. Information and data on COVID-19 are rapidly evolving. This guidance […]
Second Open Letter on COVID-19 Focuses on Nondiscrimination, Data Collection and Economic Harm for LGBTQ Communities
From the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association… On April 21, 2020, GLMA, Whitman-Walker Health, the National LGBT Cancer Network, the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, the New York Transgender Advocacy Group, and SAGE issued a second open letter to public health officials, healthcare institutions and government leaders on the impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ […]
Detectable Viral Load Tied to Uptick in Heart Disease Risk in Youth With HIV
From Poz.com… Among young people living with HIV, having a detectable viral load is associated with a slight increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Sitaji Gurung, MD, PhD, MPH, of Hunter College at the City University of New York, presented findings from a study of HIV-positive youth 14 to 26 years old at the […]