Antibiotic Crisis: Hope Amid Institutional Decline
The fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) stands at a critical crossroads. Despite a slight decline in U.S. STI rates in 2023, resistance to antibiotics continues to rise globally, particularly for gonorrhea. This creates a paradox: while we're seeing promising new treatments advancing toward approval, recent political decisions have dramatically weakened our ability to track resistance patterns. Meanwhile, funding and policy support for developing new antibiotics remain inadequate. This crisis demands urgent attention as resistant infections spread faster than new treatments can be developed, with serious implications for public health and patient care.
The Growing Threat of Antibiotic-Resistant STIs
For people living with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems, antibiotic-resistant STIs aren't just a public health statistic—they represent a serious and growing threat to wellbeing. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported fewer gonorrhea cases in the U.S. last year, the global picture is far more concerning.
Gonorrhea is becoming increasingly resistant to our last effective treatments. In Southeast Asia, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified a three-fold increase in extensively drug-resistant gonorrhea strains in Cambodia between 2022 and 2023. These hard-to-treat infections now make up over 12% of cases in the region.
What does this mean for patients? When first-line treatments fail, people face longer infectious periods, more complex and expensive treatments, and greater risk of complications. For people living with HIV or hepatitis C, these resistant infections can further compromise health and complicate disease management.
Breakthrough Treatments on the Horizon
Despite the grim outlook, two novel antibiotics represent genuine breakthroughs in the fight against resistant STIs after decades without new gonorrhea treatments.
Zoliflodacin, developed through a Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP) and Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics partnership, completed the largest Phase 3 trial ever conducted for gonorrhea, with promising results. While its 91% cure rate appears slightly lower than the current standard's 96%, zoliflodacin's significance lies in its novel mechanism of action against resistant strains and its oral administration route. As resistant gonorrhea increasingly requires injectable treatments, an effective oral option represents a major advance for both accessibility and patient care.
Equally promising is gepotidacin, developed by GSK and already FDA-approved for urinary tract infections as of March 2025. This novel antibiotic showed a 92.6% success rate against gonorrhea through its unique dual-targeting mechanism that inhibits two critical bacterial enzymes, making it effective against resistant strains. GSK plans to submit for the gonorrhea indication later in 2025.
These developments showcase complementary partnership models: GARDP's non-profit approach ensures zoliflodacin's availability in low-income countries, while gepotidacin demonstrates successful public-private partnership between GSK and BARDA. Despite these advances, the WHO reports the broader antibiotic pipeline remains critically thin, with only 12 truly innovative antibiotics among 32 in development, and just 4 targeting the most critical pathogens.
Political Decisions Undermining Public Health
In a dangerous contradiction, just as resistance is rising and new treatments are on the horizon, political decisions have severely weakened our ability to monitor and respond to these threats.
Since early 2025, the current administration has eliminated approximately 20,000 jobs across health agencies and proposed cutting the HHS budget by about 26% ($127 billion).
The impact on STI programs has been particularly severe. The Washington Post reported that all 27 scientists at the only U.S. facility capable of tracking hepatitis outbreaks were fired. Additionally, 77 CDC staff members working on STI prevention were let go, including 49 experts embedded in state health departments who provided critical support to local efforts.
Most alarming for people at risk of STIs is the closure of the specialized lab that tests gonorrhea samples for antibiotic resistance. This lab was our early warning system—without it, doctors and patients won't know which antibiotics still work until treatment failures start mounting.
Prevention Strategies: Interrupting Transmission Chains
While developing new antibiotics is critical, prevention remains essential. Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) has emerged as an effective tool for breaking transmission chains. The CDC now recommends that men who have sex with men and transgender women with a history of bacterial STIs use DoxyPEP after sexual encounters.
Real-world data from San Francisco showed significant declines in chlamydia and syphilis among those using DoxyPEP, though gonorrhea reductions were less dramatic. While some concerns exist about the potential for DoxyPEP to contribute to broader antibiotic resistance, current evidence suggests this approach can effectively reduce STI transmission in high-risk groups—a crucial tool while we wait for new treatments.
The Funding Gap and Market Failure
The fundamental problem in antibiotic development is an economic one: the market doesn't adequately reward the creation of new antibiotics, especially those held in reserve to combat resistance.
The experiences of both zoliflodacin and gepotidacin highlight this challenge. Zoliflodacin required non-profit involvement through GARDP to advance through clinical trials, while gepotidacin needed significant government funding through BARDA. As Henry Skinner of the AMR Action Fund notes, "The funds needed to support this ecosystem, particularly in late-stage development, won't be there in a couple of years unless something unanticipated happens."
The AMR Action Fund, backed by pharmaceutical companies, aims to invest $1 billion to bring 2-4 new antibiotics to patients by 2030. The Fund has deployed over $100 million in capital to companies developing promising antimicrobials. However, experts recognize this as a stopgap measure rather than a solution to the underlying market failure.
A more sustainable approach is proposed in the PASTEUR Act, which has been introduced in multiple congressional sessions without passing. This legislation would create subscription contracts with developers of critical antimicrobials, ensuring financial returns regardless of how sparingly the drugs are used—essentially paying for access rather than volume.
This "Netflix model" for antibiotics would help align public health needs with market incentives. However, despite bipartisan support, the Act faces an uncertain future in the current political climate of budget cutting and deregulation.
Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Communities
Antimicrobial resistance operates within complex syndemics, where multiple health conditions interact and amplify each other within populations experiencing social inequities. People living with HIV stand at the intersection of these overlapping epidemics.
Research shows people living with HIV have higher rates of drug-resistant gonorrhea co-infection, each condition worsening the other. This syndemic intensifies with hepatitis C—a Department of Veterans Affairs study found 37% of people with HIV were also HCV-positive, with significantly higher rates of mental health issues and substance use disorders among these co-infected patients.
Among people who inject drugs with HIV, HCV rates reach up to 71% in some settings, according to a global review. These aren't coincidental occurrences—structural factors create environments where these epidemics cluster and interact.
The dismantling of surveillance infrastructure creates a dangerous blind spot in tracking these syndemics. Without specialized CDC labs monitoring resistant gonorrhea, we've lost our early warning system for emerging resistance patterns in vulnerable communities. Simultaneously, new restrictions on health equity research effectively discourage scientists from studying social factors that increase vulnerability to antimicrobial resistance.
A Patient-Centered Path Forward
From a patient and advocate perspective, five key policy areas require immediate attention:
Restore critical infrastructure. The dismantling of STI surveillance labs has left both patients and providers flying blind. Congress must fund restoration of these capabilities and hold administration officials accountable so we can track resistance patterns, update treatment guidelines, and support state and local health departments.
Support innovative development models. The GARDP partnership for zoliflodacin and the GSK-BARDA collaboration that produced gepotidacin demonstrate effective approaches to antibiotic development. These models—balancing commercial viability with public health needs—warrant expanded funding and replication.
Implement pull incentives. The PASTEUR Act would create a subscription-based model rewarding companies for developing critically-needed antibiotics without encouraging overuse, aligning market incentives with public health priorities.
Strengthen integrated care models. People at highest risk of resistant infections often face multiple health challenges. HIV, HCV, and STI services should be integrated to address overlapping needs, following the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's comprehensive care model.
Expand prevention strategies. While new treatments are essential, preventing infections reduces suffering and limits resistance. Expanded access to DoxyPEP, increased STI screening in high-risk populations, and vaccine research represent critical prevention strategies.
The antimicrobial resistance crisis in STIs reveals a stunning act of self-sabotage: just as scientific innovation finally delivers promising new treatments like zoliflodacin and gepotidacin, the misguided decimation of public health infrastructure has crippled our ability to track and respond to resistant infections. This isn't poor timing—it's the cavalier dismemberment of critical surveillance systems by ill-equipped partisans wielding policy chainsaws with no regard for consequences. The resulting wreckage threatens to undo decades of progress against STIs, particularly for communities already navigating systemic barriers to care.
The path forward demands both hope and principled outrage. Patients and advocates must forcefully reject further cuts to public health infrastructure, demand immediate restoration of STI surveillance capabilities, and hold elected officials accountable for the consequences of their decisions. We must insist on passage of the PASTEUR Act to fix the broken economics of antibiotic development while ensuring that promising science reaches those who need it most, not just those with wealth, power, and access.
Grindr Launches At-Home STI Testing Initiative
In an approach to combat elevated sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates among gay, bi, trans and queer people, the social dating app Grindr rolled out a new initiative providing users the chance to order at-home STI testing kits. Ellen Jenne wrote about this very issue in a recent blog post highlighting the new service the app rolled out to address elevated rates of STI infections among gay and bisexual men who have sex with me (GBMSM) in London.
Grindr partnered with Prepster at The Love Tank to deliver this initiative. PrEPster is a program part of the broader ‘The Love Tank’ community organization, a not-for-profit community interest community (CIC) providing education and research to under-served communities. This trailblazing partnership is why the initiative of providing at-home STI testing kits to users of the Grindr app is now introduced in London.
Grindr writes that this initiative will not only help users obtain knowledge of their health status but also help the app serve as a role model for other social networking apps to also make an emphasis on sexual health matters.
The initiative has already been successful in other countries like Ireland, Georgia, New Zealand and the US. The rate of STI diagnosis among GBMSM in London is recorded to be 15 times higher compared to that of the general population. This statistic is a reason why the initiative has been introduced in London and Grindr also writes that these numbers represent true people with actual struggles relating to fear and discrimination.
In their Grindr Unwrapped for 2023, the app shared statistics about what city users explored the most to attempt a connection with another user and London ranked first. Although a statistic from the previous year, the city’s popularity for being searched the most in one year highlights the importance of introducing the initiative in London overall.
The at-home self-test kits address common fears around STI testing such as physical transportation, fear of judgment and limited clinic hours. The at-home self-test kits address physical transportation barriers in allowing users to test at the convenience of their own homes at any time and be free of any judgment they would otherwise face in a physical clinic location.
Additionally, Grindr promises to not share information it obtains from its users when collecting data to send the kits to users.
Here is how the free and confidential service works:
Access: Users access the service directly from their profile by clicking on the button “Free STI Kit”
Eligibility: After clicking the “Free STI Kit” button, users will be guided through the basic steps to confirm their eligibility for the free testing kit.
Privacy: Once confirmed, the kit will be discreetly delivered to the user’s address. Users can then collect their samples in the privacy of their own homes.
Return: After collecting samples, users can return the kit using the provided free postage.
Results: Within a couple of days of returning the kit, users receive their results via notifications through SHL’s secure platform.
Confidentiality: Throughout the entire process, from ordering to receiving results, users’ information remains strictly confidential and is never shared with Grindr.
This public health push from one of the world’s largest social dating apps provides clear access, guided steps and convenient knowledge of health status. Ordering an STI self-test kit to reduce common burdens faced from members of the GBMSM community will help individuals achieve peace of mind in their community in an attempt to lower the overall heightened STI rates among these individuals.
New CDC Guidance Backs DoxyPEP Amid STI Surge, Political Controversy
The United States is grappling with a surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with alarming increases in syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), syphilis rates have risen by 80% since 2018, gonorrhea cases have increased by 11%, and chlamydia remains high despite a slight decrease. This underscores the urgent need for innovative prevention strategies. One such strategy, Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (DoxyPEP), has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against STIs, but it has also become a target of politically-motivated attacks fueled by misinformation and bigotry. DoxyPEP involves taking a dose of the antibiotic doxycycline after condomless sex to prevent bacterial STIs. While studies have repeatedly demonstrated its safety and efficacy, certain politicians, most notably Florida Senator Marco Rubio, have launched a crusade against DoxyPEP, jeopardizing the health and well-being of countless people.
While Senator Rubio and others leverage misinformation to fuel a politically-motivated crusade against the CDC’s new DoxyPEP guidelines, the evidence is clear: DoxyPEP is a safe, effective, and urgently needed tool to combat the nation's skyrocketing STI rates, particularly among the LGBTQ+ community already facing systemic healthcare disparities.
DoxyPEP: Backed by Science, Embraced by Communities
Fortunately, the effectiveness of DoxyPEP isn't based on conjecture or political ideology; it's firmly rooted in scientific evidence. Numerous studies have demonstrated its remarkable ability to reduce STI rates among those most vulnerable. In the groundbreaking DoxyPEP trial, researchers observed a sustained decrease in STI incidence among participants taking DoxyPEP, even with a short-term increase in sexual partners and condomless sex acts, as reported in Infectious Disease Special Edition. Further bolstering these findings, a separate study from the University of California, San Francisco, revealed that DoxyPEP reduced the risk of chlamydia and gonorrhea by nearly 70% among participants. These findings, along with a growing body of research, make it clear that DoxyPEP is a powerful tool with the potential to significantly impact the STI epidemic.
Real-World Success
The positive impact of DoxyPEP extends beyond clinical trials and into real-world settings. In San Francisco, where public health officials have proactively implemented DoxyPEP, the results have been significant. A study by the San Francisco Department of Public Health found that among participants, overall STI incidence fell by 58% after starting DoxyPEP. Chlamydia cases dropped by 67%, and early syphilis cases decreased by 78%. These real-world outcomes highlight the potential of DoxyPEP to effectively curb STI transmission when embraced by the community.
Addressing Resistance Concerns
One of the most frequently raised concerns about DoxyPEP is its potential to contribute to antibiotic resistance. While this is a valid concern that warrants careful consideration, the evidence suggests that the benefits of DoxyPEP outweigh the risks when implemented responsibly. As the CDC states in its report, "The potential for DoxyPEP to increase antimicrobial resistance is a theoretical concern, but current data do not suggest that DoxyPEP use has resulted in substantial increases in resistance." This finding is further bolstered by a study from the University of California, San Francisco, which found no significant increase in antibiotic resistance genes among DoxyPEP users. Additionally, the CDC emphasizes that the short course of doxycycline used in DoxyPEP, coupled with ongoing monitoring for resistance trends, can help mitigate this risk. These findings should reassure policymakers and the public that DoxyPEP, when implemented responsibly as part of a comprehensive STI prevention strategy, is unlikely to exacerbate the already concerning issue of antibiotic resistance.
Community Acceptance
Not only is DoxyPEP backed by robust scientific evidence, but it has also been met with enthusiasm and acceptance from the very communities it aims to protect. When offered DoxyPEP as a prevention option, people at risk for STIs have demonstrated a strong desire to incorporate this tool into their sexual health practices. In San Francisco, for example, Dr. Hyman Scott reported that "about 39% of people ultimately decided that they wanted DoxyPEP as an STI prevention tool." This positive reception speaks volumes about the willingness of people to take charge of their sexual health and embrace new strategies for protecting themselves and their partners.
Political Roadblocks: Rubio's Disinformation Campaign
Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence and the positive response from those most impacted by STIs, DoxyPEP faces a formidable roadblock: a politically-motivated disinformation campaign spearheaded by figures like Senator Rubio. Driven by what appears to be a combination of ideological opposition and a disregard for evidence-based policymaking, Rubio has repeatedly attempted to discredit DoxyPEP and undermine its adoption.
In a press release riddled with inflammatory language, Senator Rubio proclaimed, “The CDC’s unscientific recommendation is dangerous and could lead to more antibiotic-resistant infections and deaths." This statement, however, directly contradicts the findings of the CDC itself, which clearly show that current data do not suggest that DoxyPEP use has resulted in substantial increases in resistance. Furthermore, Rubio's assertion that the CDC's recommendation is "unscientific" ignores the rigorous research and clinical trials that have consistently demonstrated DoxyPEP's safety and efficacy.
By cherry-picking statistics about antibiotic resistance without acknowledging the nuances of DoxyPEP's implementation and the evidence mitigating those risks, Rubio engages in a dangerous game of misinformation. His tactics, unfortunately, have the potential to dissuade patients from accessing a potentially life-saving prevention tool and hinder efforts to curb the STI epidemic.
Unmasking the Agenda
A closer look at Senator Rubio's record reveals a disturbing pattern of opposition to policies that benefit the LGBTQ+ community, raising serious questions about the motivations behind his crusade against DoxyPEP. His voting history, as reflected in his 0 out of 100 score on the Human Rights Campaign's Congressional Scorecard, paints a picture of an anti-LGBTQ+ agenda. From opposing marriage equality to supporting discriminatory bathroom bills, Rubio has consistently aligned himself with those who seek to marginalize and harm the LGBTQ+ community.
As HRC President Kelley Robinson aptly stated, "Throughout his career, Sen. Rubio has repeatedly put his personal beliefs ahead of the needs of his constituents, particularly LGBTQ+ Floridians." His stance on DoxyPEP, a measure that would primarily benefit men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women, aligns with this pattern of disregard for the well-being of the LGBTQ+ community. By framing a scientifically sound public health intervention as "dangerous" and "unscientific," Rubio perpetuates harmful stereotypes and undermines efforts to address a health crisis that disproportionately impacts LGBTQ+ people.
The Dangers of Politicized Health
The case of DoxyPEP lays bare a disturbing trend in contemporary politics: the cynical manipulation of public health for political gain. When evidence-based interventions like DoxyPEP are distorted and demonized, the consequences extend far beyond a single policy debate. Allowing political agendas to dictate public health decisions undermines trust in science, erodes support for vital programs, and ultimately puts lives at risk.
This pattern of politically-motivated attacks on healthcare is particularly pronounced when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community. Across the country, conservative lawmakers at all levels of government are pushing a discriminatory agenda that seeks to restrict access to essential healthcare services for LGBTQ+ people. From attempts to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth to efforts to allow healthcare providers to refuse service to LGBTQ+ patients, these attacks represent a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of an already marginalized community.
Senator Rubio's crusade against DoxyPEP must be understood within this broader context. His actions are not about protecting public health; they are about scoring political points by exploiting prejudice and fear. When those in positions of power prioritize ideology over evidence and demonize vulnerable communities, the consequences can be devastating.
The Path Forward: Equity, Access, and Comprehensive Prevention
To effectively address the STI epidemic, we must move beyond the politically-motivated roadblocks erected by those who prioritize ideology over evidence. A truly effective response requires a commitment to equity, access, and comprehensive prevention strategies that center the needs of those most impacted.
It's crucial to acknowledge that STIs do not impact all communities equally. As highlighted in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Strategic Plan for addressing STIs, certain populations, including gay and bisexual men, transgender people, and young people, bear a disproportionate burden of these infections. This disparity is driven by a complex interplay of factors, including stigma, discrimination, and barriers to accessing quality healthcare. For example, in 2018, more than 50% of primary and secondary syphilis infections occurred among MSM. These disparities demand a targeted and equitable approach to STI prevention, one that prioritizes the needs of those most vulnerable and addresses the systemic factors that contribute to their increased risk.
The Urgency of Action
The urgency of the STI epidemic demands swift and decisive action. We can no longer afford to let misinformation and political maneuvering hinder the implementation of evidence-based solutions like DoxyPEP. As Dr. Jonathon Cherabie, an Infectious Disease physician, pointedly stated on Twitter, "To state that this move [DoxyPEP implementation] is 'political' when two MAJOR trials have shown how beneficial this intervention is, in the midst of a massive increase in STIs especially syphilis is disingenuous." Dr. Cherabie goes on to highlight the hypocrisy of fixating on unfounded fears of antibiotic resistance with DoxyPEP while ignoring its use for other purposes like acne and malaria prophylaxis. His words serve as a potent reminder that the opposition to DoxyPEP often stems not from legitimate scientific concerns, but from a desire to undermine the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people. Every day that passes without readily available DoxyPEP represents missed opportunities to prevent new infections and protect the health of marginalized communities.
A Multifaceted Approach
It's important to recognize that DoxyPEP, while a powerful tool, is not a standalone solution to the STI epidemic. To truly make a lasting impact, we need a comprehensive approach that addresses the complex nature of this public health crisis.
This comprehensive strategy must prioritize:
Expanded Access to Testing and Treatment: Timely and affordable access to STI testing and treatment is paramount. We must remove financial and logistical barriers that prevent people from seeking care, ensuring that everyone can get tested and treated promptly and effectively.
Comprehensive Sexual Health Education: Accurate, inclusive, and age-appropriate sexual health education is fundamental to empowering people to make informed decisions about their sexual health. We must move away from abstinence-only approaches and embrace education that encompasses a wide range of topics, including consent, contraception, and STI prevention methods.
Addressing Stigma and Discrimination: Stigma surrounding STIs prevents people from seeking testing and treatment, perpetuating the cycle of transmission. We must foster open and honest conversations about sexual health, challenge harmful stereotypes, and create a more supportive and inclusive environment for those affected by STIs, especially at points of care.
Adequate Funding for Public Health Initiatives: Effectively combating the STI epidemic requires robust and sustained funding for public health programs. This includes resources for research, surveillance, prevention programs, and healthcare infrastructure.
Conclusion
The alarming rise of STIs in the United States demands our unwavering attention and a commitment to evidence-based solutions. Inaction is not an option; it carries the weight of preventable infections, long-term health complications, and lives needlessly impacted. DoxyPEP represents “the most exciting intervention for STI prevention in two decades,” a scientifically sound intervention with the potential to significantly curb the STI epidemic, particularly among the LGBTQ+ community. We cannot allow political maneuvering and misinformation campaigns to derail this progress.
As advocates, policymakers, and industry professionals, we have the power to turn the tide against this epidemic:
Integrate DoxyPEP into Policy Agendas: For policymakers, champion legislation and funding initiatives that expand access to DoxyPEP, ensuring its inclusion in Medicaid, ADAPs, and private insurance plans. Advocate for comprehensive sexual health education and robustly funded public health programs.
Harness Your Platform to Disseminate Accurate Information: Leverage your professional networks, social media platforms, and public speaking engagements to counter misinformation surrounding DoxyPEP. Share the overwhelming scientific evidence supporting its efficacy and safety, and challenge those who prioritize political agendas over public health.
Advocate for FDA Approval: While the CDC has issued guidelines for DoxyPEP, it remains an off-label use of doxycycline. Advocate for the FDA to formally approve this use, which would further solidify its legitimacy, potentially expand insurance coverage, and increase confidence among healthcare providers and patients.
The fight for effective STI prevention is a fight for public health, for equity, and for the well-being of us all. Let's leverage our collective influence to ensure that DoxyPEP becomes a standard tool in our arsenal against this urgent public health crisis.
Community Roundtable Emphasizes Impacts of Covid-19
In late June, Community Access National Network hosted a virtual Community Roundtable on Covid-19’s Impacts on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Substance Use Disorder. CANN’s policy consultant (yours truly) was joined by A. Toni Young, founder and executive director at Community Education Group, and Kenneth Westberry, senior manager of policy and government relations at the National Coalition of STD Directors, in discussing the wide-reaching impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent public health emergency on the nation’s longest and most well-funded public health service providers…so far. Attendees included representatives from patient advocacy organizations, state and local health departments, clinical laboratories, hospitals, pharmseutical companies, and federally or state funded service providers from 20 states and the District of Columbia. The event was sponsored by ADAP Advocacy Association, ViiV Healthcare, Abbvie, Merck, and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
Toni started off a whirl wind of information with making direct comparisons between the previous year’s overdose death rates and this year’s and emphasizing the plight of West Virginia by comparing the nation’s increases to the state’s. This opened the roundtable with a clear message that would ring through with every new data point: the pandemic’s impacts are not equal. Building upon the point made in a blog post earlier this year, Toni pointed to a stark decrease in HCV screening and, more pointedly, reviewed available data on HCV medication access – showing a decrease of 37-48% during the first few months of the public health emergency. She warned listeners not view initial lower incidence rates as optimistic, rather these findings should be viewed under a lens of a lack of access to screening and services. She further stressed the lack of SUD services accessed at the beginning of the pandemic resulting in alarming increases in injection drug use-related HIV diagnoses as a year over year trend with 2021 looking even more worrisome. Rounding out this segment of the roundtable, Toni cautioned attendees: we have good reason to believe screenings will not necessarily return to their pre-pandemic levels in a speedy fashion or without additional effort and funding.
I followed Toni’s dynamic presentation, picking up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance reports for 2015-2019 – reminding the audience federal level data often lags by two years and the CDC has already presented data for 2020 on fewer HIV tests being performed. This portion of the presentation highlighted disparities in HIV along geography, racial and ethnic lines, as well as sex assigned at birth. I needed to note: gender identity is not uniformly collected data in HIV surveillance. The CDC’s pre-exposure prophylaxis data was similarly…unfortunate. With right around 10% for Hispanic/Latino people identified as living at risk for HIV receiving PrEP services and medication in 2018 and just over 6% of African American/Black people living at risk for HIV receiving PrEP services and medication in the same year. Similarly, people assigned male at birth were more likely than people assigned female at birth to have access to PrEP. Looking to the pandemic, I cited two Kaiser Family Foundation reports one on the similar disparate impacts between HIV and Covid-19 among racial and ethnic communities compared to their white peers and the other on Covid-19’s impact on Ryan White service providers. The KFF reports showed service providers reporting an increase in patients without insurance or receiving Medicaid, some clinics reporting a decrease in patient retention and other reporting increases in patient retention, and clinics reporting a decrease in patient demand for HIV screenings and accessing PrEP services.
The final presenter, Kenneth Westberry, began by giving a brief overview of the state of STI’s as public programming: a steady increase year over year in reported STI incidence, a lack of significant funding increases in the last 15 years, and nearly 40% of clinics reporting a decrease in hours or closing entirely during the height of Covid-related restrictions. Of the particular burdens, Covid-19 brought state and local health departments, nearly 80% redeployed their staff from STI programming to Covid-19 programming, reducing capacity to manage STI caseloads, and facing an unprecedented lack of testing supplies as manufacturers also refocused on making Covid-19 tests. Kenneth then reviewed the findings of NCSD’s surveys seeking to evaluate the state of STI programs (phase I, phase II, and phase III) showing many health departments are still behind in terms of having enough staff to meet the needs of both Covid-19 as a public health emergency and regular STI programs.
Moving onto the nuts and bolts of the federal response to Covid-19, Kenneth highlighted the role of disease intervention specialists historically and in response to Covid-19, answering the “why” the Biden Administration’s change in stature toward the pandemic was critically necessary. Particularly, the American rescue Plan Act added $1.13 billion to expand and sustain current DIS and the President’s budget request includes an increase in funding for STI programs in addition to current spending levels.
The three panelists then spent a brief amount of time discussing the funding weaknesses exposed by Covid-19 diverting resources. In a particular “shot across the bow”, Toni stated “Health departments and appropriators have learned Ryan White dollars aren’t sacrosanct anymore. If the emergency is big enough, they can grab those monies,” urging advocates to keep on their toes and watch actions at the state and local as much as they do at the federal level. Each panelist also mentioned a need for greater collaboration between “silos” in order to reach the nation’s lofty public health goals with regard to HIV, HCV, STI’s, and SUD.
Panelists wrapped up by highlighting upcoming events for each organization, sharing resources, and once again thanking each other, attendees, and sponsors. The slide deck can be downloaded here.
Future events will be hosted to ensure we’re “tracking what’s on the ground” and connecting community partners with pertinent resources and information.