www.actupny.com // @actupny // https://www.facebook.

com/groups/actupny/
Media: Terry Roethlein, 347-449-2881
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ACT UP Hastens Release of NYS DOH Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Guidelines
Calls for New York State to Allocate Funds for Public and Provider PrEP Education

NEW YORK CITY JANUARY 21, 2014 AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power/New York (ACT
UP/NY) applauds the release by New York States Department of Health (NYS DOH) AIDS
Institute of clinical guidelines for the use of Pre-Exposure Prohylaxis, or PrEP, to reduce HIV
transmission. PrEP is a daily dose of the HIV medication Truvada that can prevent HIV infection
if taken before exposure. The guidelines, which are available publicly at
http://www.hivguidelines.org/clinical-guidelines/pre-exposure- prophylaxis/guidance-for-the-use-
of-pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep-to-prevent-hiv-transmission/, were released on January 14
th

due to pressure from ACT UP NY.

While were glad to see the creation and availability of these guidelines by the AIDS Institute,
says ACT UP member Terry Roethlein, the NYS DOH dragged its heels for months over their
release, which was originally promised to us last fall. The fact that the guidelines are available at
the beginning of 2014 at all is the direct result of consistent pressure and communication with the
AIDS Institute by ACT UP and its numerous allies. Since the July, 2012 FDA approval of
Truvada for PrEP, over 5,000 New Yorkers have seroconverted, according to Centers for Disease
Control statistical data.

ACT UP demands the following crucial next steps be taken immediately by New York State to
ensure the timely reduction of overall HIV infection rates of the residents of New York State:

NYS DOH AIDS Institute must pursue comprehensive, statewide implementation of PrEP by
actively pursuing much more expansive enrollment in broad-based, PrEP-related continuing
medical education (CMEs) courses for healthcare providers. An awareness campaign targeting
healthcare providers is also necessary.
NYS DOH AIDS Institute must implement an innovative, explicit public education campaign
targeting communities that could most benefit from PrEP. Recent NYS DOH data shows that men
who have sex with men (MSM), young MSM of color, and transgender women have
disproportionate rates of HIV infection.
NYS DOH AIDS Institute must administer grants to healthcare organizations to make PrEP
available to at-risk poor and uninsured patients and must provide easily accessible information on
available resources.
Governor Cuomo and the State of New York must affirm their commitment to the HIV
communitys Plan to End AIDS by convening a previously promised task force comprised of
medical providers, community and social service providers, people living with HIV/AIDS, health
care activists, and city and state officials. New York State must also expand the budget for HIV
treatment and prevention, thus reducing transmission rates by using treatment to lower
communities viral loads and by promoting more innovative chemical prophylaxes like PrEP and
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).