TY - JOUR
T1 - PrEP Scale-Up and PEP in Central and Eastern Europe
T2 - Changes in Time and the Challenges We Face with No Expected HIV Vaccine in the near Future †
AU - Gokengin, Deniz
AU - Bursa, Dominik
AU - Skrzat-Klapaczynska, Agata
AU - on behalf of the Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe (ECEE) Network Group
AU - Alexiev, Ivailo
AU - Arsikj, Elena
AU - Balayan, Tatevik
AU - Begovac, Josip
AU - Cicic, Alma
AU - Dragovic, Gordana
AU - Harxhi, Arjan
AU - Aimla, Kerstin
AU - Lakatos, Botond
AU - Matulionyte, Raimonda
AU - Mulabdic, Velida
AU - Oprea, Cristiana
AU - Papadopoulos, Antonios
AU - Rukhadze, Nino
AU - Sedlacek, Dalibor
AU - Sojak, Lubomir
AU - Tomazic, Janez
AU - Vassilenko, Anna
AU - Vasylyev, Marta
AU - Verhaz, Antonija
AU - Yancheva, Nina
AU - Yurin, Oleg
AU - Kowalska, Justyna
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/1/4
Y1 - 2023/1/4
N2 - With no expected vaccine for HIV in the near future, we aimed to define the current situation and challenges for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The Euroguidelines CEE Network Group members were invited to respond to a 27-item survey including questions on PrEP (response rate 91.6%). PrEP was licensed in 68.2%; 95 centers offered PrEP and the estimated number on PrEP was around 9000. It was available in daily (40.1%), on-demand (13.3%), or both forms (33.3%). The access rate was <1–80%. Three major barriers for access were lack of knowledge/awareness among people who are in need (59.1%), not being reimbursed (50.0%), and low perception of HIV risk (45.5%). Non-occupational PEP was available in 86.4% and was recommended in the guidelines in 54.5%. It was fully reimbursed in 36.4%, only for accidental exposures in 40.9%, and was not reimbursed in 22.72%. Occupational PEP was available in 95.5% and was reimbursed fully. Although PrEP scale-up in the region has gained momentum, a huge gap exists between those who are in need of and those who can access PrEP. Prompt action is required to address the urgent need for PrEP scale-up in the CEE region.
AB - With no expected vaccine for HIV in the near future, we aimed to define the current situation and challenges for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The Euroguidelines CEE Network Group members were invited to respond to a 27-item survey including questions on PrEP (response rate 91.6%). PrEP was licensed in 68.2%; 95 centers offered PrEP and the estimated number on PrEP was around 9000. It was available in daily (40.1%), on-demand (13.3%), or both forms (33.3%). The access rate was <1–80%. Three major barriers for access were lack of knowledge/awareness among people who are in need (59.1%), not being reimbursed (50.0%), and low perception of HIV risk (45.5%). Non-occupational PEP was available in 86.4% and was recommended in the guidelines in 54.5%. It was fully reimbursed in 36.4%, only for accidental exposures in 40.9%, and was not reimbursed in 22.72%. Occupational PEP was available in 95.5% and was reimbursed fully. Although PrEP scale-up in the region has gained momentum, a huge gap exists between those who are in need of and those who can access PrEP. Prompt action is required to address the urgent need for PrEP scale-up in the CEE region.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85146911661
U2 - 10.3390/vaccines11010122
DO - 10.3390/vaccines11010122
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85146911661
SN - 2076-393X
VL - 11
JO - Vaccines
JF - Vaccines
IS - 1
M1 - 122
ER -
