This is a new and exciting resource for pharmacies looking to implement their own pharmacy-based HIV PrEP Programs.
We aim to establish an online forum hosted by community pharmacies who have successfully rolled out their own PrEP programs and other health team members who can provide you with real world advice and tools. The goal is to foster a virtual community of PrEP providers and staff who share ideas with each other and problem solve together to make more community pharmacy-based PrEP programs successful.
Research has shown that if we want to make strides towards ending the HIV Epidemic, low barrier access to PrEP is essential. Pharmacy programs have proven to be a great way to do that. We hope you’ll join us!
Who can participate?
Pharmacists and other pharmacy staff, such as pharmacy technicians, who are engaged in providing PrEP for patients or interested in starting a pharmacy-based PrEP program.
How do I participate?
Click on the JOIN button above to reach out to our VCoP coordinator. Please provide your name, title and where you work (state and name of pharmacy/hospital/etc). You may be asked to provide your license information if you are licensed as a pharmacist or pharmacy tech. You will then be admitted to the VCoP where you can begin connecting with other pharmacists and pharmacy staff, accessing helpful resources and connecting with content experts to help answer your PrEP related questions.
What is this program all about?
This virtual community of practice (VCoP) is intended to improve uptake and sustainability of pharmacy-based PrEP programs to hopefully increase the number of people starting and staying on PrEP. The VCoP is funded by the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative via the University of Washington Behavioral Research Center for HIV (BIRCH).
What is a Community of Practice (CoP)?
A CoP is a group of people with common interests who learn from each other and improve their practice. This is an online virtual community of practice (VCoP) to discuss best practices for pharmacies to provide PrEP for HIV.
What is PrEP?
Preexposure prophylaxis for HIV (often called PrEP) is when a person without HIV takes an antiretroviral medication to prevent acquiring HIV infection. PrEP is usually provided as a daily oral medication, such as emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) or emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF). A long-acting injectable medication called cabotegravir was approved by the FDA for PrEP in December 2021 and is now available in some clinics and pharmacies.