Today is World AIDS Day. The pandemic that's been going on for over 35 years.
At the end of 2019, 76 million people have been infected with HIV/AIDS and about 33 million people have died. Around 1,7 million people acquire the virus every year.
Over 35 years and there's still not a vaccine.
I've heard people make comparisons between the AIDS pandemic and COVID-19. The thing to remember about HIV is that the infection is for life. There's no cure for it.
HIV has been on the rise in Czechland for the last several years and last year the country had the world's 5th largest increase.
Hopefully once COVID-19 gets under control, then the free HIV testing centres here will be able to re-open.
While there is no vaccine, or cure, available for HIV at least there is PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). PrEP is a once-a-day pill that combines two antiretroviral medications that helps prevent transmission of the virus. Again, not a vaccine because if you stop taking the pill then you can catch the virus.
PrEP is covered by Czech health insurance and a 30-day supply of PrEP here only costs 1100 Kč ($51). In the USA, without health insurance, the cost is $1,600 - $2,000 (34 340 - 42 925 Kč) per month.
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