A revolutionary jab that prevents HIV will be rolled out on the NHS - giving new hope of wiping out the virus within five years.

The groundbreaking injection - taken once every two months - protects people from contracting HIV with almost 100 per cent effectiveness.

It will be available at sexual health clinics across England and Wales within months, following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The move marks a major step towards the NHS's goal of becoming the first health service in the world to eliminate HIV transmission by 2030.

Called cabotegravir (or CAB-LA), the jab works by blocking an enzyme the virus needs to copy itself inside the body - preventing it from multiplying and taking hold if someone is exposed.

Unlike the current daily HIV-prevention tablets known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), the new therapy requires an injection every two months, administered by a healthcare professional.

It will be offered to around 1,000 people a year who cannot take oral PrEP, for example due to medical conditions, difficulty swallowing tablets or unstable living situations.

Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: 'HIV remains a serious public-health challenge, but we now have powerful tools to prevent new infections.

'Around 1,000 people in England cannot have daily oral PrEP due to medical contraindications or other barriers, which is why this injection offers an effective option for this community.'

Dr Michael Brady, NHS England's National Adviser for LGBT+ Health, added: 'This long-acting injection is a significant addition to our HIV prevention strategies - giving us a powerful new option for people at risk who cannot have oral PrEP tablets.'

Health Secretary Wes Streeting hailed the approval as 'game-changing'. He said: 'For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope.

'We're making real progress on HIV, with PrEP use up by eight per cent this year.

'England will be the first country to end HIV transmissions by 2030, and this breakthrough treatment is another powerful tool in our arsenal to reach that crucial goal.'

More than 111,000 people accessed PrEP in sexual-health clinics in England during 2024 - a seven per cent rise on the previous year, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

HIV attacks the immune system and, left untreated, can cause life-threatening illness. But modern medicines can suppress the virus so effectively that it becomes 'undetectable' - meaning it cannot be passed on.

The rollout comes alongside a major expansion of HIV testing in A&E departments, with 89 hospitals now screening all patients having blood tests in high-prevalence areas - a scheme expected to identify nearly 1,900 new or previously missed cases each year.

Charities hailed the new jab as a vital step in tackling inequalities. Richard Angell, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: 'Injectable PrEP will be transformative for our HIV response. 

'It's highly effective and a vital tool for tackling inequalities - with the potential to reach those not currently accessing prevention.'

Cabotegravir is made by ViiV Healthcare, part of GSK, at its Barnard Castle site in County Durham.

Julie Guest, ViiV Healthcare's UK general manager, said: 'As the first and only long-acting PrEP option available in the UK, cabotegravir offers an alternative to help people stay protected.'