We live in a time of unprecedented hope for dramatically reducing new HIV transmissions in the United States. Some public health advocates even talk ambitiously of eliminating new HIV transmissions entirely. Such bold thoughts were unimaginable just a few years ago.
Yet while new HIV infections are down slightly overall, we’re still experiencing approximately 50,000 new transmissions annually. And most of those cases are occurring among gay and bisexual men of color. Why the discrepancy?
First, the promise of dramatically reduced transmission rates lies in the effective one-two punch of treatment and prevention made possible by advances in today’s HIV medications.
On the treatment side, HIV-positive individuals now have access to very effective medications that lower their viral loads to undetectable levels. Studies have shown that people with undetectable viral loads do not transmit the virus to others.
On the prevention side, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP – the antiretroviral medication Truvada – has proven to be highly effective in preventing HIV transmission. When used correctly, studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of sexually transmitted HIV by up to 99 percent. The CDC estimates that expanding access to PrEP could prevent more than 48,000 new infections over five years.
Unfortunately, though, not enough people are taking the drug, particularly in communities of color.
Today most Californians can access PrEP at little or no cost. PrEP is covered by all health insurance companies statewide, including Medi-Cal. Even for those without health insurance, some local governments are funding expanded access to PrEP.
One roadblock to more widespread PrEP usage though is lack of awareness of PrEP in the medical community. And in some cases, stigma and shame around both gay sex and taking the medication hinder some gay and bisexual men from discussing PrEP with their doctors.
Another significant factor hindering more widespread PrEP use is a basic lack of awareness within the gay and bisexual community. This is where organizations like Equality California are stepping in to make a difference.
Earlier this year, Equality California launched #TakeIt: I’m PreEP’ed, a campaign to increase awareness and uptake of PrEP. The campaign’s ultimate goal is to reduce HIV transmissions nationwide, particularly in communities of color.
#TakeIt: I’m PrEP’d is an online and offline educational campaign. Equality California is featuring the campaign online, in emails and via social media, targeting its 800,000-strong email list and its nearly 80,000 Facebook and 28,000 Twitter followers. We’re hosting booths at Pride festivals across California – we’ll be in Palm Springs in November – and have conducted more than 20,000 person-to-person conversations on PrEP.
Generally, PrEP is for people who do not have HIV but who are more likely to encounter it, including many gay and bisexual men. People interested in PrEP should talk to a medical provider to determine if PrEP is right for them. Also, PrEP is very effective at preventing HIV transmission but does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, where condoms remain most effective.
Nonetheless, PrEP is a powerful tool in the HIV prevention toolbox, particularly for those in at-risk populations. We can’t let a simple lack of information stand in the way of preventing HIV transmissions in this country. It’s time to get PrEP’d!
Rick Zbur is executive director of Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBT civil rights organization. Email him at rick@eqca.org.
http://www.desertsun.com/story/opinion/contributors/valley-voice/2016/08/12/valley-voice-prep-use-vital/88638868/