What is PrEP?
PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.
When you’re on PrEP, you’ll drastically reduce the chance of HIV infection. PrEP works! It’s more than 99% effective when taken properly and is safe for all genders.
PrEP can be taken orally as one pill, once a day. Or, you can take PrEP as an injectable once every 2 months. Both oral and injectable PrEP are covered by ODB and private insurance plans.
Since PrEP does not provide protection from STIs, we recommend getting tested regularly for STIs or consider DoxyPEP.
There are 2 types of PrEP available in Canada: oral & injectable.
What is Oral PrEP?
Oral PrEP means you take one pill, once a day, to prevent HIV infection.
Truvada, Emtricitabine-Tenofovir (Generic Truvada) and Descovy are approved in Canada for PrEP.
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Truvada: The first oral PrEP medication to come to market.
Emtricitabine-Tenofovir: The generic equivalent to Truvada.
Descovy: This is another option for oral PrEP. It is not covered by ODB, and there is no generic equivalent available.
Wondering which is right for you? Check out our blog post 'Comparing Descovy and Truvada for PrEP' -
Oral PrEP, when taken as one pill, once a day, reduces your risk of contracting HIV from sex by more than 99%. It must be taken every day, as directed, for 99% protection.
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PrEP can be used by all genders: men, transgender women, women and gender diverse people.
Here's a quick checklist to see if PrEP might be right for you:you don't have HIV and want to prevent HIV infection
you have multiple sexual partners
you are a men or transgender women who has condomless sex with men, and you have had an STI (syphilis or a rectal bacterial STI) in the past year)
you have used PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) more than once
you have condomless anal or vaginal sex with a partner with HIV who is not on treatment and virally suppressed
you share injection drug use equipment
Apretude: Injectable PrEP is here.
Apretude is the first long-acting injectable PrEP for the prevention of HIV. It is now available in Canada.
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Apretude is a long-acting injectable that prevents HIV infection.
Apretude is an intramuscular injection that is administered in the buttocks every two months. Apretude must be given by a health professional.
You can get your Apretude injections on-site at The Village Pharmacy locations in Toronto.
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Apretude was approved by Health Canada in May 2024.
It is not currently covered by government insurance programs such as ODB, but may be covered by private insurance providers.
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Injectable PrEP is for anyone at risk of HIV from sex or drug use. It's a good choice for those who have side effects from oral PrEP or who have trouble taking their dose every day.
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Two major clinical trials showed that Apretude is even more effective for HIV prevention than Truvada.
Among HIV-negative cis-gender men and transgender women, HIV infections occurred 3x less often on Apretude than on Truvada.
Among HIV-negative cis-gender women, HIV infections occurred 12x less often on Apretude than on Truvada.
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You'll need a prescription from a doctor. The Village Pharmacy's PrEP Clinic can get you access to a physician right away. Plus, you can get your injections on-site, at The Village Pharmacy - Yonge & Wellesley and Yonge & Eglinton.
Sign-up or learn more about The Village Pharmacy's PrEP Clinic.
PrEP gives you peace of mind when it comes to HIV prevention.
BUT, being on PrEP doesn’t protect against other sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis. Here’s what you can do:
Get vaccinated for HPV, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
Consider DoxyPEP to prevent gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia
Get tested for STIs regularly so you can catch infections early, start treatment right away and prevent complications
How do I get started on PrEP?
You can start PrEP at The Village Pharmacy's PrEP Clinic. You can go virtual or visit us for an on-site appointment. We serve people living in Toronto, the GTA and across Ontario.
You'll get a proper assessment, blood test form and an appointment with a doctor that specializes in PrEP.
Having consistent access to a professional, non-judgemental, and local healthcare team is what sets our clinic apart from the rest.