Concerted Efforts Are Needed To Get Back on Track Toward Ending HIV Following COVID-19

While COVID-19 impacted virtually everyone, in some ways, the disruptions caused by the pandemic have been even greater for the HIV community than others. While the impact of the pandemic on people living with and at risk for HIV is not fully understood, we know that many clinics and community-based organizations (CBOs) were forced to close, HIV community health workers were deployed to assist with the emerging crisis, and countless resources were allocated to mount an emergency response. The HIV response was thus impacted: services were interrupted, critical HIV research was delayed or stopped, and significant parts of the HIV workforce still remain deployed, resulting in immense burnout. As we move into a future with growing rates of vaccine protection and improvements in COVID-19 treatments, but still lingering concerns related to future COVID-19 variants, a critical question we must ask is, “How do we make up for lost ground and get back on track toward ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S.?”

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