What is PrEP?
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and it is medication you take if you don’t have HIV (are HIV-negative) to prevent you from getting it if you are exposed. It is publicly funded for some populations in BC, which was driven by the advocacy work of Community Based Research Centre for Gay Men’s Health, YouthCO and the Health Initiative for Men. We applaud their part in bringing this options to people in BC.
Those who are interested in accessing the publicly funded PrEP program have to meet with a provider/clinician (doctor or nurse prescriber) where they do a medical history, get a lab requisition and after the lab work is done, can be enrolled in the PrEP program if eligible. First Nations people are already eligible, as are people deemed to be at high-risk of HIV infection.
Information about PrEP in BC
PrEP information for cis and trans folks from Health Initiative for Men
PrEP Guidelines includes eligibility and enrolment information from the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Publicly-Funded PrEP Available for BC’s First Nation and Inuit People
Presentations, studies and advocacy work from Community Based Research Centre for Gay Men’s Health
Canadian Guidelines
Canadian guideline on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (CMAJ)
Canadian guideline on HIV preexposure prophylaxis and nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis for pharmacists (Canadian Pharmacists’ Journal)
HIV factsheet: Biomedical prevention of HIV – PrEP and PEP (Government of Canada)
This information was last updated July 31, 2020.