Health services in England and Wales have approved a long?acting injection to prevent HIV, marking a major step in the fight to end new transmissions. NHS England said it will roll out cabotegravir, a preventive therapy known as PrEP, to around 1,000 people at higher risk who cannot take daily pills. The jab, given every other month, offers an alternative to tablets and aims to make prevention easier for people who struggle with a daily regimen. Officials say the move supports the goal to eliminate HIV transmissions within the next five years.
The two?monthly injection does not replace other prevention tools, but it adds a choice that many clinicians and campaigners have sought for years. Health leaders argue that more flexible options can remove barriers to access and adherence. They see this first phase as the start of wider availability, subject to supply, demand, and robust monitoring of outcomes across services.
Context and timing
NHS England announced the rollout late on Thursday, 16 October 2025. On Friday, 17 October 2025, national coverage confirmed that England and Wales had approved the jab for preventive use. Health services will begin offering the injection to a limited cohort while they evaluate uptake and clinic capacity.
A new option for people who cannot use daily PrEP pills
Daily oral PrEP remains a proven way to prevent HIV when people take it as prescribed. However, not everyone can take pills or maintain a daily routine. NHS England said it will offer cabotegravir first to people who cannot have tablets to protect them from the virus. Clinicians will assess eligibility and discuss the best option for each person’s circumstances.
The new jab offers the same aim as tablets: to stop HIV from establishing infection after exposure. Health services will continue to provide oral PrEP to those who use it successfully. The injection adds choice, rather than replacing existing options. Health professionals expect that choice to help people who prefer discreet, clinic?based care or who find a pill schedule hard to follow.
Cabotegravir’s two?monthly dosing aims to improve protection
Cabotegravir provides long?acting protection through an injection given every other month. That adds up to six doses a year after the initial start. The schedule reduces the need for daily medication and may improve consistency for people who want fewer reminders of their risk or who face challenges managing pills.
Clinics will deliver the jab in planned appointments. That approach lets teams provide advice, testing, and support alongside each dose. The therapy helps prevent HIV, but it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections. Health staff continue to recommend regular testing and safer sex practices to reduce broader risks.
NHS rollout targets elimination of HIV transmissions within five years
NHS England set a goal to eliminate HIV transmissions in the next five years. Leaders view the cabotegravir rollout as a practical step towards that target. By focusing the first wave on around 1,000 people at higher risk who cannot use pills, the NHS aims to reach groups who need an alternative and may benefit most from long?acting protection.
Officials said the staged rollout will inform future decisions about scaling access. Teams will monitor uptake, clinic workload, and patient outcomes to ensure safe, effective delivery. The move aligns with wider public health efforts to expand testing, speed diagnosis, and link people to prevention or treatment without delay.
Approval spans England and Wales, widening access to prevention
The approval in both England and Wales sets a common direction for HIV prevention across the two nations. Health services can now plan delivery and make consistent decisions about eligibility for the jab. The decision builds on years of PrEP provision through daily tablets, which remain available across sexual health services.
Public health agencies say increasing the range of prevention tools can reduce new infections over time. With cabotegravir now approved, services can better match prevention to individual needs. The NHS will continue to evaluate evidence and adjust services as data on uptake and impact emerges from clinics.
What people at risk need to know
People who think they may be at higher risk of HIV can contact their local sexual health service for advice. Clinicians can explain all PrEP options, including daily tablets and the new two?monthly injection where available. They will discuss eligibility and help people choose the option that suits their life and health needs.
The NHS advises anyone interested in PrEP to seek timely information, especially if they have had recent exposure risks. Services can arrange testing and provide prevention or post?exposure care as needed. Health staff emphasise that early assessment and the right preventive tools make a significant difference in reducing transmission.
Service planning and next steps for clinics
Clinics will prepare to deliver the jab to the initial group while keeping existing PrEP services running. Teams will
