There are daily pills to prevent HIV but injectable options could change what prevention looks like [Video]

This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.

Once a day, Tim Lagman takes a pill that reduces his risk of contracting HIV, a precaution he’s taken since 2017.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is part of the daily routine for a growing number of Canadians at risk of exposure to HIV through sex or injection drugs. 

While most people take it in pill form, Lagman, a sexual health educator and podcaster in Scarborough, Ont., is hopeful about a new, longer-lasting injectable option given every two months.

“The option of injectable PrEP would help people at risk of HIV to not worry about it so much,” he said.

“Every other month would be a lot easier for me, my peace of mind and my schedule.”