PEP – Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
About PEP
If you suspect that you may have had contact with HIV within the last 72 hours, you are strongly advised to seek PEP treatment urgently. The fastest way to access PEP is at a local emergency room near you. Do not wait for a HIM location to open!! PEP is more effective the sooner it is taken within the 72 hours after possible exposure.
Accessing PEP at HIM
If you suspect that you may have had contact with HIV within the last 72 hours, you are strongly advised to seek PEP treatment urgently. The fastest way to access PEP is at a local emergency room near you.
Accessing PEP at HIM is limited due to capacity and hours of operation but you can access through the HIM on Davie and the HIM on the Drive Health Centres in Vancouver. If you are at the HIM Health Centre during opening hours and you suspect that you may have had contact with HIV within the last 72 hours, please make sure to let your nurse know, and they will guide you through the options to access PEP.
GBQ men and gender diverse people who may have had contact with HIV during sex in the last 72 hours and HIM on Davie or HIM on the Drive ore open.
- HIM on Davie Health Centre
- HIM on the Drive Health Centre
Remember: the fastest way to access PEP is through a local emergency room near you.
- Possible exposure to HIV within the past 72 hours.
- No MSP/Health number is needed.
- Identification is needed to access PEP.
Due to the urgent nature of the treatment needed, HIM does not provide appointments for accessing PEP but requires folks to do a walk in to the HIM location. PEP is effective only up to 72 hours after the possible exposure and the sooner you begin PEP the more effective it is, please do not wait even a day or more to access PEP through HIM but if you have concerns about a recent exposure to HIV, please visit a local emergency room urgently.
FAQs
PEP is a time-sensitive treatment that requires urgency. Due to the volume of clients visiting HIM Health Centres on daily basis, and our limited nursing staff, we cannot guarantee speed of service. Therefore, we recommend that clients who need PEP treatment to visit their local emergency room instead.
If you happen to have an appointment to see a HIM nurse at the HIM on Davie Health Centre or HIM on the Drive Health Centre (for routine testing, immunization…etc.) then your nurse would be able to provide you with the PEP treatment. Please make sure to inform your nurse of this so they can assist you.
HIM on Davie and HIM on the Drive Health Centres are the two locations with the most capacity and resources at the moment, therefore are able to provide more services that some of our other Health Centres or outreach clinics.
When you arrive at the emergency room and meet the triage nurse, let them know that you have reasons to believe that you may have had contact with HIV within the last 72 hours (the more specific you can be with the timeframe the better). The triage nurse will be able to assist you and help you navigate next steps.
No, PEP is provincially controlled and dispensed based on an assessment provided by a health care provider. For PEP to be dispensed you are required to show your identification and your name will be recorded by Vancouver Coastal Health.
Yes, some Urgent Primary Care Centres can assess and dispense PEP, please call the location first before visiting to make sure they are able to provide PEP.
Emergency rooms will dispense PEP without MSP but you or your insurance will have to pay a significant amount for the PEP.
Yes, some Urgent Primary Care Centres (UPCC) will provide PEP without MSP, please call them first to make sure you won’t need MSP.
As soon as possible the window for PEP is 72 hours and it becomes less effective the longer you wait within the 72 hours.
No, you don’t need PEP as there is little to no risk on HIV transmission in these scenarios.
