COVID
AJMC
Center for BiosimilarsCenter for Biosimilars
Contributor: It’s Important to Prioritize HIV Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
August 13, 2022
Allison Fortier, Milena Murray, PharmD, MSc, BCIDP, AAHIVP
Not all barriers to HIV-related care and services have been eliminated, and these gaps in care were exacerbated by treatment disruptions brought on by the COVIDC-19 pandemic.
Approximately 37.9 million people living with HIV are at risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.1 However, the COVID-19 pandemic created setbacks for individual and public health HIV treatment goals. These delays in care had many adverse effects.
People were told to stay home, and many appointments and procedures were canceled.1 Further, those who may have received their diagnosis in the hospital could not follow up for care and receive treatment, and access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) was restricted during the pandemic, which led to decreased adherence. This, in
