Submitted by Krista Dommer, San Joaquin County Public Health Services
Approximately 80 San Joaquin County Residents become newly infected with HIV every year
San Joaquin County Public Health Services (PHS) will begin offering HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in February.
PrEP is a way for people who do not have HIV, but who have an increased chance of getting it, to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill called Truvada every day. Truvada has been shown to be safe and to help HIV-negative people to stay that way. PrEP is used along with other prevention methods, such as condoms. When taken daily, PrEP can reduce the chance of getting HIV by more than 90 percent. If not taken daily, PrEP will not be as protective against HIV infection.