By Perry N. Halkitis, Shobha Swaminathan and Travis Love
For the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV or AIDS, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to undermine their physical, mental, social, and economic wellbeing.
These impacts on health are exacerbated in Black and brown communities particularly Black sexual- and gender-minority men and women and Black cisgender women who are coping with the realities created by COVID-19, ongoing systemic discrimination, and a plethora of other social inequities that create additional vulnerabilities to their overall health.
The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed our efforts to bring an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, adding to the stigma, systems of oppression and structural racism that ultimately fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our state and country.
We know all too well that stigma is one of the reasons why patients continue to experience trauma related to their HIV diagnosis. In fact, for many people living with HIV/AIDS, reliving the trauma of isolation while simultaneously fearing for their lives should they become infected with COVID-19 has had a synergistic effect.
As a result of the ongoing stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, many people who become infected with this virus may not want to know their status, fearing rejection from family, friends, and sexual partners. In fact, for those already diagnosed, the stigma and resulting trauma can prevent many from continuing to seek adequate care, undermining their viral suppression and resulting in the progression of HIV. This can also lead to increased infectivity to sexual partners.
In the early days of HIV/AIDS, victim-blaming was common and those who developed a detectable number of antibodies in their blood were categorized as either innocent victims (i.e. children and hemophiliacs) or immoral beings who through their actions brought the disease upon themselves (i.e. gay men and injection drug users).
We believe that stigma is the driving force behind the health disparities that continue to put people at risk for HIV/AIDS. In order to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we must ensure more access to care and cultivate an ecosystem that combats systemic racism, homophobia, and transphobia.
We must call on the federal government to fund and tackle gaps in care and to prioritize care for individuals who are vulnerable to both COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS, who are too often Black and brown people.
It is very possible to envision a world free from HIV, given our current medical advances in the form of preventative medication, PrEP, and effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), which when dosed properly creates a zero probability that an HIV-positive person can infect someone else.
What we need now, is a vaccine. After 30 years of research, a new clinical study, MOSAICO, shows promise and offers hope. The Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Clinical Research Center (NJMS CRC) is currently seeking volunteers who are queer, gender non-conforming, and transgender to screen and enroll in the study. The research team also facilitates workshops to reduce vaccine hesitancy and to raise research literacy.
Yet, medications are not enough. While novel therapeutics remain key, behavioral interventions and social acceptance are essential for their success. By using a status neutral approach, we will stop the forced differentiation of HIV positive and negative people. This approach is simple: a person is ensured access to care if they are HIV positive. If a person is HIV negative, they are given access to preventative medications such as PrEP.
Practicing a status neutral approach can repair the schism that has existed for far too long between HIV-positive and HIV-negative populations. Our goal is to assure that everyone has a right to good health.
Gov. Phil Murphy has shown how deeply he understands and how passionately he cares about the structural drivers of disease. Now we must act. We cannot let the HIV/AIDS epidemic continue to take a backseat to pressing health care issues of the moment. As we continue to raise awareness, we are calling on New Jerseys Legislative leadership to enact the policies developed by Governor Murphys Statewide Task Force to End the HIV Epidemic.
We all need to raise our voices together to end this epidemic. The public can also make a difference by urging our elected officials to:
To learn more, join Rutgers School of Public Health and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School as we strive to raise awareness of a Neutral Nation with a series of engaging events from February 17 to 20.
Dr. Perry N. Halkitis is dean and director of the Center for Health, Identity Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS) at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Dr. Halkitis also was a member of both the New Jersey and New York Ending the HIV Epidemic planning groups.
Dr. Shobha Swaminathan is an associate professor of medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Medical Director of the infectious diseases practice at University Hospital in Newark. She was a principal investigator of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine trial in Newark.
Travis Love is a community educator who has served as a public health representative at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School since 2016.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
- Utilizing your free, preventative healthcare coverage - KELOLAND.com - February 18th, 2024
- Preventive Pros: the Podcast - Department of Population and Public Health Sciences - University of Southern California - February 18th, 2024
- Heart health awareness and preventative care with Jen Lewis on Coast Live - News 3 WTKR Norfolk - February 18th, 2024
- Heart disease risk factors in women highlight need for increased awareness, prevention - American Heart Association - February 18th, 2024
- Preventive health care benefits | Opinion | thecabin.net - Log Cabin Democrat - February 18th, 2024
- Menopause and migraines: New findings point to power of prevention - Medical Xpress - February 18th, 2024
- How Young Is Too Young For Preventative Skincare? Here's What Experts Want You To Know - Health.com - February 18th, 2024
- Potential prevention of rheumatoid arthritis with injection? Clinical study brings hope for millions - WION - February 18th, 2024
- Heart disease risk factors in women highlight need for increased awareness, prevention - Medical Xpress - February 18th, 2024
- Stay on top of your fur baby's health: the importance of scheduling routine vet visits - FoxReno.com - May 17th, 2023
- Preventive healthcare - May 9th, 2023
- What Is Preventive Health and Why Is It Important? - May 9th, 2023
- What Is Preventive Medicine & Why Do We Need It? | AUC - February 16th, 2023
- Preventive Medicine | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier - December 3rd, 2022
- Migraine - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic - December 3rd, 2022
- Functional Medicine of Idaho | Preventative Root Cause Medicine - December 3rd, 2022
- These 2 Staten Island nurses believe IV hydration drips and vitamin shots are key to long-term health - SILive.com - December 3rd, 2022
- CNBCTV-18 and IIM-K's India@2047 Leadership Series: Challenges and opportunities in the fintech and healthcare sectors - Forbes India - December 3rd, 2022
- As N.W.T. mulls health coverage changes, petition calls for preventative HIV drug to be free - CBC.ca - September 20th, 2022
- EU regulator backs wider use of AstraZeneca COVID therapy - Reuters - September 20th, 2022
- Choose integrative medicine for health and wellness - Technique - September 20th, 2022
- The high hospital bills we make victims of rape and sexual violence pay - Vox.com - September 20th, 2022
- 4 Anti-Aging Products Youre Using All Wrong, According To Skincare Experts - SheFinds - September 20th, 2022
- Why Now is the Time to Double Down on Virtual Care - HIT Consultant - September 20th, 2022
- Tell Giselle: The price of good help is priceless - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - September 20th, 2022
- Heron Therapeutics Announces U.S. FDA Approval of APONVIE (HTX-019) for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) - BioSpace - September 20th, 2022
- Pickleball injuries are on the rise: 5 preventive tips to keep you on the court - The Manual - September 20th, 2022
- The next big social movement and other takeaways from our regular meeting - POLITICO - September 20th, 2022
- 15 Mushrooms and How to Use Them in Vegan Cooking - VegNews - September 20th, 2022
- Use of honey in the management of Chemotherapy | CMAR - Dove Medical Press - September 20th, 2022
- Celebrity Strategy Consultant Predicts What Will Be The Most Impactful Area In The Pharmaceutical Industry - Forbes - September 20th, 2022
- C2C Care Course The Preservation of Our Global Photographic Heritage: Here, There and Everywhere - aam-us.org - August 3rd, 2022
- Loneliness: Causes, Effects And Prevention Forbes Health - Forbes - August 3rd, 2022
- Prevention and wellness is the new model, a leader from Henry Ford Health System says - Becker's Hospital Review - August 3rd, 2022
- FACT SHEET: White House Summit on Building Lasting Eviction Prevention Reform - The White House - August 3rd, 2022
- Getting Back to Employer Health and Wellness Programs - Cone Health - August 3rd, 2022
- Do ICDs Still Work in Primary Prevention Given Today's HF Meds? - Medscape - August 3rd, 2022
- Alzheimer's-defying brain offers clues to treatment, prevention - Harvard Gazette - August 3rd, 2022
- Wind-fanned lightning fire prompted precautionary evacuation notices near Medical Springs Sunday evening - Baker City Herald - August 3rd, 2022
- Experts discuss importance of cancer screenings and early detection - Merck - August 3rd, 2022
- King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research to test samples for monkeypox - The Hindu - August 3rd, 2022
- Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations - World - ReliefWeb - August 3rd, 2022
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta: While monkeypox cases rise, why are we waiting for the cavalry to rescue us? - CNN - August 3rd, 2022
- SCYNEXIS Announces U.S. Food and Drug Administration - GlobeNewswire - August 3rd, 2022
- Governor Whitmer declares August 2022 as Breastfeeding Month, highlights additional breastfeeding observances - Michigan (.gov) - August 3rd, 2022
- New student education program supports drug and alcohol abuse prevention - The Ohio State University News - July 25th, 2022
- Suicide prevention training for health care providers a first step in longer-term efficacy - University of Washington - July 25th, 2022
- Pharmalittle: Congress may miss deadline to pass FDA user-fee bill; ViiV is urged to lower price for its HIV prevention drug - STAT - July 25th, 2022
- Prevention of Bipolar Disorder Episodes: Is It Possible? - PsychCentral.com - July 25th, 2022
- GAO Found Gap in Dirty Bomb Prevention - Government Technology - July 25th, 2022
- Florida man in apparent medical distress crashes car through beach crowd before hitting the water - CNN - July 25th, 2022
- Study: Preventive care scarce in LGBTQ+ community - - Medical Marketing and Media - July 25th, 2022
- The rise of preventive insurance purchases in India - ETHealthWorld - July 25th, 2022
- Why Are My Feet Always Cold? Cold Feet Causes and Treatment - Prevention Magazine - July 25th, 2022
- Agency looking to open overdose prevention site in Saint John amid 'poisoned' drug supply - CBC.ca - July 25th, 2022
- UVA Expert Offers Insight on the Use of Dietary Supplements for Cancer Prevention - UVA Today - July 25th, 2022
- Alzheimer's: Targeting key protein in blood may slow progression - Medical News Today - July 25th, 2022
- NPPC, FAS focused on ASF prevention in the Philippines - MEAT+POULTRY - July 25th, 2022
- Implementation of IPT in people living with HIV | RMHP - Dove Medical Press - July 25th, 2022
- NL starts preventive vaccination against monkeypox in Amsterdam, The Hague - NL Times - July 25th, 2022
- Precautionary measures you can take against brain haemorrhage - Times of India - July 25th, 2022
- Acid Reflux and Liver Disease: Signs, Symptoms and Prevention - Healthline - July 25th, 2022
- What to do if you get an allergic reaction: symptoms, causes, and prevention - Fox News - July 25th, 2022
- How one woman took control of her rare disease and achieved her dream - Times of Oman - July 25th, 2022
- Tilman Fertitta donating $50 million to UH medical school, which will be renamed after him - Houston Chronicle - May 20th, 2022
- This new 3D screensaver collection includes a driving tour of global pylons - Rock Paper Shotgun - May 20th, 2022
- Dedication, generosity and compassion that had no limit! - The Sun Chronicle - May 20th, 2022
- Manhattan internist and cardiologist, Dr. William Priester collaborates with Castle Connolly Private Health Partners to create a new concierge medical... - May 20th, 2022
- Tips on avoiding mosquitos this summer - morethanthecurve.com - May 20th, 2022
- Nanomedicine and HIV Therapeutics - AZoNano - May 20th, 2022
- The HIV Vaccine: What We Know, And What We Don't - MadameNoire - May 20th, 2022
- What we know (and don't know) about North Korea's COVID-19 outbreak - WCVB Boston - May 20th, 2022
- Experts warn of health effects from dusty conditions as sandstorm blankets UAE - Al Arabiya English - May 20th, 2022
- Statin therapy: Does the gut microbiome affect outcomes? - Medical News Today - May 20th, 2022
- New Preventative Medicine Facility Wraps Work in NYC - Healthcare Construction and Operations News - November 7th, 2021
- MPD working with faith-based leaders to fight violent crime - FOX13 Memphis - November 7th, 2021
- Cornell grad and lecturer touts benefits of plant-based diet - ithaca.com - November 7th, 2021
- Meet the Cork-born bread activist who has Goldie Hawn buying her loaves - Irish Examiner - November 7th, 2021
- Pfizer says pill cuts risk of severe Covid by 89% - RTE.ie - November 7th, 2021
- The roots of ivermectin mania: How South America incubated a fake-medicine craze that took the US by storm - Yahoo News - November 7th, 2021