HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PEP)
In British Columbia, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) provides publicly funded antiretroviral drugs for HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PEP) of HIV exposures, where it is medically indicated with a favourable risk/benefit ratio. Please use the resources below for guidance on the prescription of HIV PEP.
For information on how to obtain medication for prevention of HIV infection following a high risk occupational or non-occupational exposure, please call the St Paul's Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy 1-888-511-6222
Guidelines Updates
March 31, 2020
The standard 23-day refill HIV PEP medications, if required, will be emtricitabine/tenofovir DF fixed-dose combination once daily (replacing tenofovir DF and lamivudine) and raltegravir twice daily, to reduce the pill burden. The 5-day HIV PEP starter kit will still consist of tenofovir DF, lamivudine, and raltegravir as separate entities, to allow for dose adjustment in cases where the exposed person is a child or has renal insufficiency. Changes have been to the recommendations regarding the use of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAT) for cases where it is necessary to rule out acute HIV infection in the source or the exposed person; NAT testing is only recommended if is acute infection is suspected to have occurred within the previous 2 weeks.
Healthcare Provider Support
To speak with an expert regarding HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PEP) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week call:
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| St Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy: | 1-888-511-6222 |
Online HIV Prevention Course: https://education.bccfe.ca/courses/hiv-prevention/
HIV PEP Consultation Sites
- 5-day HIV PEP starter kits are available in hospital Emergency Departments and some community clinics/health centres throughout the province
- 5-day HIV PEP starter kits and consultation for 23-day follow-up are available at the following sites:
| Downtown Community Health Centre (DCHC) Provides services to residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) community Address: 569 Powell Street Vancouver, BC Phone: 604- 255-3151 Hours: Monday through Sunday 8:30 am to 6:00 pm For location and current hours please check the website: Downtown Community Health Centre (DCHC) – Vancouver Coastal Health (vch.ca) | |
| Health Initiative for Men (HIM) on Davie Sexual health clinic for gay, bi, trans, and queer men, and Two-Spirit and Non-Binary people Address: 416–1033 Davie Street Vancouver, BC Phone: 604-675-2767 Hours: Monday to Thursday 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm Friday and Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm For location and current hours please check the website: https://checkhimout.ca/health-centres/hours-and-locations/ | |
| Health Initiative for Men (HIM) on the Drive Sexual health clinic for gay, bi, trans, and queer men, and Two-Spirit and Non-Binary people Address: 1145 Commercial Drive (at the REACH Community Health Building in the Basement) Vancouver, BC Phone: 778-708-3568 Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm For location and current hours please check the website: https://checkhimout.ca/health-centres/hours-and-locations/ | |
| British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) 12th Ave Clinic To book an appointment please call 604-707-5600 during clinic hours. A limited number of drop-in appointments are available Monday to Friday. We will do our best to accommodate drop-ins, but are not able to guarantee availability. Address: 655 West 12th Avenue (clinic entrance is on the west side of BCCDC building) Vancouver, BC Phone: 604-707-5600 Hours: For current hours please check the website: Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinics (bccdc.ca). | |
| Outreach Urban Health Centre Address: 1649 Pandosy Street Kelowna, BC Phone: 250-868-2230 Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Website: Information Page (interiorhealth.ca) | |
| AVI Health Centre Address: 102 – 55 Victoria Road Snuneymuxw Territory Nanaimo, BC V9R 5N9 Phone: 250- 754-9111 ext. 3211 Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 5:00pm Website: http://avi.org/our-services/nanaimo | |
| REACH Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) Address: 1145 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC V5L 3X3 Phone: 604-216-3138 Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:00 am to 10:00 pm; Sundays and holidays 9:00 am to 5:00 pm For location and current hours please check the website: reachcentre.bc.ca | |
| Island Sexual Health Community Health Centre Sexual and reproductive health clinic for people of all genders and sexual orientations. HIV PEP available for sexual exposures. Address: #101 3960 Quadra Street Victoria, BC Phone: 250-592-3479 Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday 9:00am-4:00 pm; walk-in for HIV PEP only. Sunday closed For location and current hours please check the website: islandsexualhealth.org |