PrEP/PEP

Jan 24

PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

PrEP is a daily pill to help keep you HIV-negative. PrEP is safe and generally well tolerated. It is a combination of two HIV medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine), sold under the name Truvada®. Studies have shown that PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV if it is used as prescribed. PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken consistently.

Who can take PrEP?

Anyone who feels they are at risk of HIV regardless of gender identity. PrEP can be prescribed for gay and bisexual men, for heterosexual men and women, for transgender individuals, and for genderqueer or nonbinary people. PrEP can also help people who inject drugs stay HIV-negative.

How Can I Pay for PrEP?

PrEP is covered by most insurance programs including Medi-Cal/Medicaid. The level of your coverage will vary by the type of health insurance plan you have. There are also assistance programs that can help you pay for PrEP, regardless of your citizenship status.

Our skilled staff can help you navigate your insurance coverage and assistance programs options.

Click here to discover your options to cover PrEP.

Need Refills?

If you are our client, you can check how many refills you have left by checking your bottle of PrEP or please check with your pharmacy and confirm that you don’t have any more refills. If your pharmacy states you don’t have any more refills, you may ask them to send us a refill request. Please keep in mind it takes up to 72 hours to get a refill done so please alert us three business days in advance.

PEP or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

PEP should be used only in emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours after a recent possible exposure to HIV. If you think you’ve recently been exposed to HIV during sex or through sharing needles and works to prepare drugs or if you’ve been sexually assaulted, talk to your health care provider or an emergency room doctor about PEP right away. PEP is taken daily for 28 days.

We offer PEP

San Francisco Community Health Center Clinic (415) 292-3400

For all other resources:

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html

Project Inform: https://www.projectinform.org/prep/

PrEP Facts FAQ: https://www.facebook.com/PrEPFactsFAQ/posts/965203390263522

Video: https://vimeo.com/79717700

Diana Lieu