Planned Parenthood now offers HIV prevention shot at Bankers Hill location
A Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest booth Photo courtesy of the nonprofit Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest has started offering an HIV prevention injection as part of its services it was informed Monday Apretude is a long-acting injectable medication used for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP Planned Parenthood will offer the medication at the First Avenue Family Planning Michelle Wagner Center located in downtown San Diego personnel announced According to the CDC patients who take PrEP as prescribed reduce their liability of getting HIV through sexual intercourse by about Apretude is given on-site once every two months after two initiation doses one month apart We are thrilled to be able to offer injectable PrEP as an option to our patients noted Dr Antoinette Marengo chief curative transformation officer of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest Being able to give patients a choice in their HIV prevention care puts them in the driver s seat of their robustness which leads to better robustness outcomes For our San Diego and our LGBTQ communities this is more than just an expanded offering it is a step towards greater robustness equity reduced stigma and a healthier future Planned Parenthood will still offer oral PrEP a daily pill also used for HIV prevention at all of its medical centers According to the organization Apretude is eligible for insurance coverage by a great number of plans including Medi-Cal and several commercial private plans Recipient assistance programs are also available for patients without insurance Apretude will be made available at other Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest wellbeing centers later this year or in early a report from the organization reads At a time when reproductive and LGBTQ rights are under attack like never before Planned Parenthood remains steadfast in our commitment to providing comprehensive affirming and accessible sexual medical services to all Marengo commented This new offering reinforces that promise
