HIV/AIDS: WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT CAN DO - HIV POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS

“Victoria has fallen behind in making PEP readily available to all Victorians, particularly those in regional and rural Victoria. In some
parts of Victoria, you have closer access to PEP by crossing the NSW border and getting it there,” said VAC CEO Simon Ruth. “PEP
is a vital tool in the prevention of HIV transmission, especially in urgent situations.”
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) provides an important secondary line of defence in the event of accidental HIV exposure. If a
course of PEP is taken by an HIV negative individual within 72 hours of exposure to HIV and is continued daily for 28 days, PEP
is effective in the prevention of HIV transmission. Accessing PEP within the 72 hour window period is critical to preventing the
onward transmission of HIV. While PEP is accessible in various locations around Melbourne, for regional and rural Victorians access
to PEP is limited.
In the lead up to the Victorian State Election on 29 November 2014, the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) and Living Positive Victoria
are recommending the following actions for the next Government:
• Develop a PEP Strategy that would increase the distribution points for PEP ensuring that no-one in Victoria lives more than 50
kilometres from a PEP dispensing point. This may include making PEP available throughout Victoria’s hospital network and/or
community health centres.
• Commit to working with the Therapeutic Goods Administration to make PEP available for purchase through pharmacies
• Fund a public awareness campaign that encourages gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), in addition to
other high risk populations, to have the PEP hotline phone number (1800 889 887) in their mobile phone contacts
In addition to distance and operating hours, people who have acquired HIV have reported not accessing PEP because of perceived
provider prejudice and not feeling comfortable disclosing their sexual behaviour to health clinicians for fear of being judged. One
participant in the ongoing HIV Seroconvserion Study stated, “On my previous two occasions I was grilled to a point that I felt like I
was begging; I would rather have just bought them [PEP] over the counter - even if it cost $400.”
One VAC client went on to share his experience trying to access PEP. “The hospital staff made me feel so embarrassed I almost
walked out. It was only knowing that I was at real risk of getting HIV that made me sit through two hours of humiliation,” he said.
“I wouldn’t go back there.”