HIV+Hep in the News

These measures come against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the urgent need for accurate public health communication. Critics posit these actions threaten the control necessary for addressing key health concerns across diverse populations. For example, Carl Schmid, Executive Director of the HIV+ Hepatitis Policy Institute, questioned how researchers and practitioners could effectively manage issues such as HIV and sexually transmitted diseases without language inclusive of all gender identities.

“This is clearly aimed at erasing whole populations from federal policy and guidance, and it’s troubling for public health,” commented Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV Hepatitis Policy Institute. “We can’t just erase or ignore certain populations when it actually affects their health outcomes.” The sentiment expresses concern over the undermining of important public health data.