Since the HIV epidemic began in 1981, there have been more than 80 million infections recorded and more than 40 million people have died because of it. Despite the impact it has had globally, there are still issues with how it is reported on in the media and taught in schools – something which results in misinformation about the reality of living with the virus today.

Harry shared that a lack of discussion about it in school led to a “fear of the unknown” that made him think he was going to die because of being gay. “Growing up in a rough part of Scotland, I had some of my own prejudices about LGBTQIA+ issues – but once I felt like I was safe enough to come out, I tried to learn as much as I could about my community,” he continued. “Especially over the last few months of being a part of the HIV vaccine trial and through my work with Terrence Higgins Trust, I’ve been meeting lots of different people from lots of different walks of life.”

There are a number of misconceptions Harry previously had about the virus, many of which he was able to unlearn as he became an adult and learned more about HIV. “Something that I kind of always thought in my head as a teenager was that HIV was more prominently a ‘gay virus’. What I’ve learned is that that’s not the case and, actually, HIV is most prevalent among people who would say that they’re straight,” he told GAY TIMES. “I’ve met amazing inspiring HIV-positive people who are doing incredible things and living completely normal lives despite their status.”

If the trial is a success, it will help experts develop a prophylactic vaccine that will effectively prevent HIV-negative people from contracting the virus – something Harry said would be a “groundbreaking breakthrough”.