> we will eradicate HIV within the a single generation at this rate
If there is one place socialised medicine makes so much sense that almost any argument against it is invalid, it's around contagious diseases. The prevention and treatment, inasmuch as it reduces transmission, which is true of virtually all HIV treatments, should be as effortless as possible. That starts with making it free.
We had a taste when COVID shots were free, and it was magical. So nice not having to make 16 phone calls and then getting billed $800 "by mistake", followed by 20 more phone calls to fix it, only to find out that the pharmacist's sister's mailman was out of network, so we're sending your bill to collections because it got lost in the mail.
Wouldn't complete eradication mean eradication in all countries? Given HIV policies degradation in Russia, which is significantly affected and has a sizeable population, your assumptions sounds too optimistic, even though I agree that would be a great achievement.
Programs like George Bush's PEPFAR have made great strides in fighting HIV globally through treatment and prevention. Estimated at 25 millions lives saved in 20 years, mostly in Africa.
Unfortunately it's become a target of the right wing culture warriors and certain groups are trying to gut it, after huge strides have been made in reducing global transmission of HIV.
Yeah but the united states is also the main cause of developing countries not having access to cheap medicines through the enforcement of IP laws. You can look up the special case of India and Brazil who managed to negotiate in a much better way and so are entitled to cheaper treatments.
I know someone from a EU country that had to do medical tourism to Brazil to afford hepatitis and HIV treatment as the drugs are so expensive that the doctors at public hospitals (in that country at least) will not prescribed them and instead manage the illness in other ways for the first few years. This is bad because the disease progresses faster.
> we will eradicate HIV within the a single generation at this rate!
In the same way we eradicated COVID? /s
First of all, COVID is still around just less common.
Second, this HIV implant is a twice yearly implant. Not a one-time preventative cure.
Third, User Rlad in these comments calls into question its efficacy suggesting it merely stops replication but not infection. Once a cell is infected with HIV, a cell is permanently infected. This posit’s the concern that once a person stops receiving the implants, the dormant virus will then begin replicating —- fully infecting the individual. That makes this drug sound a lot like Luciferium from the video game Rimworld.
Fourth, the inactive ingredients need to be studied. If they contain heavy metals such as mercuries and aluminums, that a reason for pause and study. Autopsies of brains affected by Alzheimer’s usually find high levels of heavy metals in the brain. Heavy metal poisoning causes all sorts of cognitive issues.
Fifth and last, too large of an immune response is associated with the creation of new allergies. All allergies are a product of an immune response to something that the body shouldn’t have an immune response to. While HIV protection trumps new allergies, it’s worth examining side effects especially if some are mostly permanent. I also don’t know if this drug causes any kind of immune response. It’s all a starting point for someone who wants to study it more to study so you can come to your own conclusions after studying.
