PRESS RELEASE

The Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) now offers expanded access to medications that prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through the California Department of Public Health’s Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Assistance Program (PrEP-AP) and new PrEP navigation services. Both insured and uninsured individuals can receive assistance through PrEP-AP.

Services available to eligible individuals include payment for PrEP and/or PEP medication, HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, STI treatment, hepatitis C testing and treatment, and PrEP-related medical visits. HHSA’s program helps individuals identify the PrEP payment program that best fits their needs and connects them with HIV and STI testing services.

PrEP-AP increases access to HIV pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) for eligible Californians and ensures that underserved residents can receive medical care and services that help prevent new HIV infections. PrEP uses antiretroviral medication to prevent HIV in people who do not have the virus but may be exposed through sex or injection drug use.

“We are excited to announce this new service to support Yolo County residents in preventing HIV infection in the first place,” said Dr. Aimee Sisson, Yolo County Public Health Officer. “When taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99 percent.”

This service is made possible by a state general fund grant through the PrEP and PEP Initiation and Retention Initiative (PPIR), aimed at expanding PrEP and PEP access across California, and is part of Yolo County’s ongoing efforts to protect residents from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. 

County residents interested in enrolling in PrEP-AP or learning more about HIV prevention can contact a Yolo County PrEP navigator by calling or texting “PrEP AP” to (530) 902-1119. In addition to Yolo County PrEP services, residents can also access PrEP-AP and clinical PrEP services through Communicare+OLE clinics.