The Sacramento LGBT Community Center has joined over a hundred organizations in calling for the Biden Administration to create a national Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) grant program to increase awareness and access to PrEP and related services. PrEP (a medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV) is nearly 10 years old, however it is underutilized, particularly by the communities most impacted by HIV. Only 23 percent of the approximately 1.2 million people indicated for PrEP are receiving it. Expanding PrEP into minority communities is critical in addressing the ongoing disparities in PrEP access and uptake.
Establishing a national PrEP program allows communities across the country to help meet the White House’s goal (noted in this Strategic Plan) to increase PrEP coverage to 50 percent by 2025. It will also help address ongoing racial and ethnic disparities and decrease new HIV infections.
On Tuesday, February 8, a letter signed by 111 organizations in an effort led by the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, HRC, NASTAD, and The AIDS Institute, was sent to the Biden Administration where it awaits its next steps.
###
If you or someone you know needs assistance accessing PrEP or are wanting to get tested for HIV reach out by calling (916) 442-0185, visiting saccenter.org/sexual-health or email Aaron.armer@saccenter.org for access to FREE at-home HIV tests.