San Diego County Launches “PrEP San Diego” Campaign to Fight HIV

“PrEP San Diego” will raise awareness for PrEP, or Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis, as an effective method of HIV prevention

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–One out of every 11 San Diego County residents living with HIV is
unaware of their status. Every 18 hours a new HIV case is diagnosed in
the county.

In an effort to raise awareness and reduce HIV infections, County and
local health leaders officially launched the “PrEP
San Diego” campaign Wednesday. The campaign will raise awareness for
PrEP as an effective method of HIV prevention. It also supports the
County’s Getting to Zero initiative, which aims to reduce HIV
infections to zero in the next 10 years.

“The PrEP campaign is an important step in our ongoing fight against HIV
and AIDS,” said Supervisor Ron Roberts. “We need people to know their
HIV status, and what they can do to prevent contracting HIV.”

The “PrEP San Diego” campaign is designed to encourage individuals at
risk of contracting HIV to consider PrEP, or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis,
as a method of HIV prevention. PrEP is an FDA-approved antiretroviral
that involves taking a once-daily pill known as Truvada that is up to 99
percent effective in preventing HIV infection.

“PrEP has the potential to significantly reduce new HIV infections,”
said Patrick Loose, chief of the HIV, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and
Hepatitis branch for the County Health and Human Services Agency. “It is
not a vaccine, but it can greatly reduce a person’s chances of getting
HIV if they are exposed to it.”

Over the next few months, San Diegans will see billboards, bus shelters
and digital ads throughout the region raising awareness for PrEP. The
ads encourage those at the greatest risk of contracting HIV to visit PrepSanDiego.com
to learn more about Truvada and where to get it in San Diego County. In
2014, a total of 13,200 individuals were diagnosed with HIV in San Diego
County.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
access to PrEP could prevent an estimated 48,000 new infections by 2020.
Improving access to PrEP and treatment for people living with HIV could
prevent as many as 180,000 new HIV infections. The CDC estimates that
one in four gay and bisexual men are at sufficiently high risk that they
should consider taking PrEP.

Contacts

MJE Marketing
James McIntosh, 619-884-2118
james@mjemarketing.com