by GRANT M. GALLAGHER

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication has been shown to reduce the risk of new HIV infection by as much as 97% when taken consistently. However, experts from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases recently released an analysis on the state of the HIV epidemic which indicates that PrEP is “vastly underutilized.”

On December 3, 2019, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the launch of Ready, Set, PrEP, a program which will provide PrEP to Americans without prescription drug insurance coverage.

Ready, Set, PrEP is a component of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative, which aims to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the US by 90% by 2030. HHS stated that increasing awareness and access to PrEP will provide an effective means of prevention to thousands of people, bringing the US closer to ending the HIV epidemic.

“Thanks to Ready, Set, PrEP, thousands of Americans who are at risk for HIV will now be able to protect themselves and their communities,” said HHS secretary Alex Azar in making the announcement. Read more via Contagion