The Government has announced the PrEP grant determination for 2020-21, which means councils in England can finally provide uncapped access to the game-changing HIV prevention drug. This was delayed due to the COVID-19 epidemic but the roll-out of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is now expected to begin from 1 October.

Richard Angell, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: 'With three working days before the start of October – the delayed but finally promised launch of uncapped PrEP access in England – the Health Department has finally allocated funds to local government to start the rollout. There should now be nothing standing in the way of this important HIV transmission prevention drug finally becoming a reality in England. This follows years of painstaking battling and further delays due to COVID-19.

'We now need to see PrEP made rapidly available right across the country – the wait has been too long. We know hard-working local officials and many clinics put the wheels in motion for a start of October launch to make the most of this game-changer for HIV prevention – this allocation of funds should mean people are ready to go. More work is needed to ensure all groups affected by HIV know about PrEP and how to access it, but this is undoubtedly an important step forward as we work towards ending HIV transmissions in England by 2030.'