Forty-five years after the CDC’s first report of what would become the HIV epidemic, we have something previous generations never had: the science to end new HIV infections.
PrEP is more than 99% effective at preventing HIV. People living with HIV who remain in care and achieve viral suppression cannot transmit the virus to their partners. The challenge today is not science. The challenge is access.
Over the last decade, telehealth has transformed HIV prevention and care by removing barriers that have historically kept people from accessing services, including stigma, geography, cost, and inconvenience. Through digital-first models, patients can now access prevention, testing, treatment, and long-term care from wherever they are.
“Forty-five years ago, an HIV diagnosis was often a death sentence. Today, we have the tools to prevent HIV, treat HIV, and ultimately end new transmissions,” said Tristan Schukraft, Founder and CEO of MISTR. “The question is whether we’re willing to make those tools accessible to everyone who needs them.”
MISTR now provides HIV prevention and care to nearly roughly one in five people on PrEP in the United States, making it one of the largest HIV prevention platforms in the country. The company provides free online PrEP, DoxyPEP, STI testing, long-term HIV care and other sexual wellness services in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
“Telehealth has proven it can reach people who have historically been left behind by the healthcare system, including rural communities, younger adults, and populations disproportionately impacted by HIV,” Schukraft added. “We see it every day. People want care. They simply need care that meets them where they are.”
While advocating for broader telehealth adoption, MISTR continues to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and the broader HIV prevention ecosystem, including community-based organizations, public health agencies, and programs like ADAP that have helped save countless lives over the last four decades.
“Ending HIV will require all of us,” said Schukraft. “Community organizations, public health leaders, healthcare providers, advocates, and innovators each have a role to play. We are proud to be part of that effort and committed to building a future where no one is left behind.”
As MISTR honors the millions of lives impacted by HIV over the last 45 years, the company remains focused on a simple goal: making HIV prevention and care so accessible that ending new HIV transmissions becomes possible within our lifetime.