Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
HIV Scotland

Will you help us end HIV stigma?

Generation Zero Donate
Menu
  • Get support
    • Know the facts
      • Basic Facts
      • Testing for HIV
      • Living with HIV
      • Treating HIV
      • PrEP
      • PEP
      • U=U
    • Resources
    • Wellbeing Support
      • Overview
      • Life Coaching
      • Therapy & Counselling
      • Comedy Workshops
    • Your Stories
    • HIV Connects
    • Our Trusted Partners
    • Helpful Links
  • Get involved
    • Volunteering
    • Events
    • HIV Scotland Advisory Networks
      • Community Advisory Network
      • Women's Advisory Network
      • PrEP Advisory Network
      • Schedule
    • Conference
    • Jobs
    • Regional Forums
      • Borders Positive Forum
      • Lothian HIV Patients Forum
  • Our work
    • Our Projects
    • Generation Zero
    • National Patient Survey
    • Living Well: 50+
    • HIV Self Test Scotland
    • Training
    • The difference we make
  • Coronavirus
    • HIV & Coronavirus
    • PrEP & Coronavirus
    • Sex & Physical Distancing
    • Been at risk of HIV?
    • Sex Work & COVID-19
    • Reproductive Health & COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccines & HIV
  • Fundraising
    • Generation Zero Appeal
    • Ways to help
    • Active Fundraisers
  • About us
    • Our Strategic Plan
    • Our Annual Report 19-20
    • What we do
      • Preventing HIV
      • Access to treatment, care & support
      • Meaningful involvement
      • Bringing the sector together
      • Informing the public
      • Parliamentary Submissions
    • Meet The Team
    • Meet The Board
    • Our History
    • Our Research
    • Research Posters
    • Latest
      • News
      • Blogs
  • Get in touch
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • prep-coronavirus
  1. Coronavirus
  2. PrEP & Coronavirus

PrEP & Coronavirus

Coronavirus is changing life for all of us. It is also putting the NHS is under a lot of strain.

COVID-19 is a new illness that affects your lungs and airways. We need to protect ourselves, and others. We need to quickly stop it from spreading further.

Over the coming months, the NHS will continue to try to provide high quality care for everyone. This includes making sure PrEP is still as easy to access as possible.

Many clinics will speed up their PrEP service to reduce risks for patients. This might include some virtual services and shorter times at the clinic.

Screening might be reduced to let laboratories focus on tests from people who are very sick.

PrEP users are likely to only be tested for HIV and syphilis and maybe less often. Testing for other STIs might be cut back if you don’t have symptoms. PrEP is still very safe and effective with this reduced testing.

Doctors and community activists produced the information below. It included PrEP doctors, the British HIV Association (BHIVA), HIV Scotland, the British Association for Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH), i-Base and PrEPster. This will help you make informed choices that are right for you. It will help you continue to benefit from PrEP to prevent HIV.

If you have any questions about PrEP and coronavirus, please call the HIV Scotland helpline on 0131 558 3713.

This information has been pulled together at pace, and things are changing rapidly. If you want to discuss the content, or think something should be added - email us at [email protected] 

Can I stop taking my daily PrEP?

Expand

If you are planning to stop having sex, you may wish to stop daily dosing PrEP.

PrEP is very flexible if your circumstances change.

Before you stop, cis men* should carry on taking PrEP for another two sex-free days.

Everyone else should carry on taking PrEP for seven sex-free days. This includes when PrEP is being taken for vaginal/frontal protection.

*Cis man refers to anyone who was assigned male at birth and who still identifies as a man.

Published: 20th March, 2020

Updated: 23rd March, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Does PrEP prevent or treat COVID-19?

Expand

No. There is no evidence drugs used for PrEP prevent or treat COVID-19.

Please do not increase your regular PrEP to prevent or treat COVID-19. Do not share PrEP with anyone to prevent or treat COVID-19.

You may hear reports of trials being conducted around the world, some of which use drugs used in PrEP (TDF/FTC, also used in Truvada as HIV treatment). Simply being utilised in a trial does not mean that there is any evidence these drugs prevent or treat COVID-19. Some people have harmed themselves or died because they have misunderstood or been told that certain drugs could help in illness prevention when this is not the case.

Prepster have a detailed page on this topic. We agree with them that it is strongly discouraged to start using TDF/FTC as COVID-19 prevention.

If you decide to start or continue taking TDF/FTC on the basis of possible COVID-19 prevention, it’s strongly advised that you DO NOT take more than the recommended dosing as you normally would (one pill a day unless double dosing to start event based PrEP).

Published: 22nd March, 2020

Updated: 15th April, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Can I change from daily dosing to event based PrEP?

Expand

Yes, but although PrEP is very flexible to change dosing - this is only for some people. It is also only if the PrEP you use is Tenofovir/emtricitabine(TDF/FTC).

Only cis men* who have sex with other men can safely change from daily dosing to Event Based PrEP. 

Everyone else, including for vaginal/frontal protection, can only use daily dosing. Event Based PrEP is not suitable. For more information on Event Based PrEP please see the PrEPster website: www.prepster.info/ebp

Event based PrEP has not been studied using Descovy (TAF/FTC). If your current PrEP drug is Descovy, only daily dosing is recommended.

If you can use event-based PrEP, this involves:

  1. Taking a double dose 2 to 24 hours before sex.
  2. Taking a single pill every 24 hours, until you’ve had 2 sex free days.

For example, if you have sex once, this will involve a double dose before sex. Then a second pill after 24 and 48 hours. Total = 4 pills.

* Cis man refers to anyone who was assigned male at birth and who still identifies as a male.

Published: 22nd March, 2020

Updated: 23rd March, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Will I still be able to get my prescription for PrEP?

Expand

Many clinics will streamline the way PrEP services work. This will help the NHS to respond to COVID-19.

Everyone that needs PrEP should still be able to access it. This means you should still be able to get your prescription when you need it. Clinics will aim to let you know about changes before your next appointment. This might be by text message, phone call or email.  Also check the clinic website.

Please contact your local clinic if you have any concerns. Please be aware that they may take longer than usual to answer or get back to you.  

Use SX’s Service Finder to find your nearest sexual health service. Click here to head over to their page.

Published: 22nd March, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Will I still be able to get my regular STI check-up during this time?

Expand

This aspect of PrEP is likely to change in most clinics.

The demand on laboratories means that clinics will be cutting back on STI tests unless you have symptoms. This will let labs focus on samples from very sick patients. As far as possible, you will still get tested for at least HIV and syphilis at your next PrEP appointment

Published: 22nd March, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

How can I safely restart PrEP?

Expand

If you have not had sex since stopping, then it’s okay to start PrEP as usual.

If you’re a cis man, you should take a double dose 2 to 24 hours before sex if you want to have sex straight away. You can then continue with either daily dosing or event-based dosing (see above).

Everyone else should take daily doses for seven days before sex. This includes for vaginal/frontal protection.

Published: 22nd March, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

What if I’ve stopped PrEP and have the chance to have sex?

Expand

If you have the chance to have sex, event based PrEP will be okay – but only if you are able to use this option.

Not everyone can use EBP safely so check here for more information: https://www.prepster.info/ebp

If you have sex and you didn’t use PrEP, you can still use PEP. This involves using a daily combination of three HIV drugs for one month. Time to PEP access should not be affected by coronavirus, but this is difficult to predict.

You can find out more about PEP here: https://www.hiv.scot/Pages/FAQs/Category/pep

Published: 22nd March, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

What is physical distancing?

Expand

What is physical distancing?

Physical distancing is about stopping the spread of COVID-19. It is often called social distancing - but we use the term physical distancing because we know it's important to maintain social links.

Physical distancing means:

  • Avoiding contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough. 
  • Avoiding non-essential use of public transport, varying your travel times to avoid rush hour when possible. 
  • Working from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. 
  • Avoiding large gatherings, and gatherings in small public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, bars and clubs (these are currently closed in the UK in order to mitigate such gatherings)
  • Avoiding gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media. 
  • Using telephone or online services to contact your GP, other essential services and your friends & family.

You can find out more about that on NHS Inform’s website here.

Published: 23rd March, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • HIV & Coronavirus
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

I've received a text cancelling my next PrEP appointment, what should I do?

Expand

The COVID-19 outbreak is putting a lot of pressure on the NHS. Many appointments over the next few months are being rearranged to allow the NHS to focus on very sick patients.

You may receive a text message to say your appointment has been cancelled. This is an automated text, and you should receive a further text message, email or phone call to discuss options for your next appointment. 

Sexual health services want to continue to provide PrEP to those who need it, but non-urgent medical care may have to be delayed if staff have to help provide urgent care to people with COVID-19. 

Whilst you can attend medical appointments during this period of heightened restrictions, it may be wise to consider the impact on you and others around you. You may decide to safely stop PrEP in the short term - you can find more information about safely stopping PrEP on this page. 

If you need PrEP urgently, you should contact us on [email protected] and we will do our best to help. 

There is more information on this page, above, for when you need to safely restart PrEP, or move to Event Based Dosing (if you can). 

Published: 24th March, 2020

Author: Nathan Sparling

Related topics:
  • PrEP & Coronavirus
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Back to top

Showing 10 of 9

Latest

  • PrEP Advisory Network Meeting (Online)

    PrEP Advisory Network Meeting (Online)

    Want to talk about PrEP? You are invited to join the first PrEP Advisory Network meeting of 2021.

  • Women's Advisory Network Meeting (Online)

    Women's Advisory Network Meeting (Online)

    We are excited to invite you to the first Women's Advisory network 2021.

  • Community Advisory Network Meeting (Online)

    Community Advisory Network Meeting (Online)

    We are excited to invite you to the first Community Advisory Network of 2021!

  • Chief Executive Nathan Sparling leaving HIV Scotland

    Chief Executive Nathan Sparling leaving HIV Scotland

    Statement from the Board of Trustees, as Nathan Sparling moves on from his role as Chief Executive of HIV Scotland to a new post.

Most read

  • Chief Executive Nathan Sparling leaving HIV Scotland

    Chief Executive Nathan Sparling leaving HIV Scotland

    Statement from the Board of Trustees, as Nathan Sparling moves on from his role as Chief Executive of HIV Scotland to a new post.

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) and people living with HIV in Scotland

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) and people living with HIV in Scotland

    We're regularly updating information about COVID-19 (also known as the novel Coronavirus) as we understand that people who live with weakened or compromised immune systems may be experiencing an extra level of anxiety and uncertainty at this time.

  • One Year On - Chief Executive Comment

    One Year On - Chief Executive Comment

    Our Chief Executive, Nathan Sparling, comments on the successes, challenges and what's to come after one year at the top.

  • Consultation on Malicious Disclosure of HIV Status

    Consultation on Malicious Disclosure of HIV Status

    HIV Scotland has launched a consultation to understand the views of people living with and affected by HIV, organisations and legal professionals on whether malicious disclosure of someone's HIV status should be made a hate crime.

  • HIV Scotland comment on data leak from NHS Highland

    HIV Scotland comment on data leak from NHS Highland

    Our Chief Executive, Nathan Sparling, has commented on the news that the personal information of 37 people was leaked in an email by NHS Highland.

  • Election 2019: Addressing Scotland’s Drug Crisis

    Election 2019: Addressing Scotland’s Drug Crisis

    HIV Scotland joined with Waverley Care, the Hepatitis C Trust, Hwupenyu and Terrence Higgins Trust to ask General Election candidates to back drug reform.

  • What is physical distancing?

  • Police to stop labelling people living with HIV

    Police to stop labelling people living with HIV "contagious" on intelligence database

    HIV Scotland uncovered the practice, forcing Police Scotland to conduct a review and announcing a stop to the policy. HIV Scotland welcome the move, but say fundamental questions still remain.

  • New Year, new opportunities

    New Year, new opportunities

    Our Chief Executive, Nathan Sparling, blogs on the opportunities which the new decade offers us in the HIV sector.

  • Remembering Derek Ogg QC

    Remembering Derek Ogg QC

    Our chair, Dr Nicoletta Policek, writes about her memories of Derek Ogg QC - and how he saved her life - ahead of his funeral on Friday 15th May.

Tag cloud

Basic Facts Donate Fundraiser Jobs LifeCoaching Living Well Living with HIV National Patient Survey NPS Research Sponsored Story Team Testing Treatment

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us

Registered Office
HIV Scotland
18 York Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3EP

+44 (0)131 558 3713
[email protected]

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Complaints

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

HIV Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland (number SC033951) and a company limited by guarantee (number SC242242).