It’s “PrEP Aware Week!”

Don’t fall for it.

“PrEP Aware Week” Reminds You HIV Prevention Is for Every Body

They’re finally saying the quiet part out loud. PrEP isn’t intended only for members of “risk groups;” they’re coming for all of us, eventually (I guess the “scientific community” has silently given up on an “HIV vaccine” ever eventuating). An excerpt:

“The theme for PrEP Aware Week 2023 is ‘PrEP is for Every Body,’ which references two social movements: sex positivity acknowledging that all consensual sexual activities are fundamentally healthy; and body positivity, celebrating all bodies, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender, and physical abilities,” explain the campaign’s organizers on PrEP Aware’s website PrEPforSex.org.

I actually don’t have (many) issues with body positivity; bodies come in all shapes and sizes and not everyone is able to be both thin and healthy. Some bodies are bigger, some are smaller, and there is a wide range of what “healthy” and “physically fit” look like. But what does this have to do with PrEP and “HIV prevention”? I have to admit I’m a bit confused.

Remember PrEP ambassadors at HBCUs? The concept of “PrEP ambassadorship” rears its head again.

This year’s campaign stars eight new ambassadors from across the state “who reflect the spectrum of people who can benefit from using PrEP,” according to the campaign. Each of the ambassadors filmed videos in which they share their perspectives on PrEP to prevent HIV. You can watch all the videos on PrEPforSex.org; several are posted here, in addition to related social media posts.

Finally, and this may just be coincidental to “PrEP Aware Week,” but I was sent the following web page intended for medical providers:

Novel HIV Prevention Strategies: Implications for Managed Care and Public Health

Intended Audience: Managed care pharmacy directors, medical directors, pharmacists, and medication therapy management (MTM) nurses

Major recent developments in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are poised to make HIV prevention easier and more effective than ever before, but these benefits can be realized only with enhanced access and awareness at this pivotal time in the national effort to end the HIV epidemic. Access this expert-led video to:

• Hear the latest clinical trial data and national recommendations from expert faculty

• Learn applications of new evidence and guidelines on managed care decision-making for HIV prevention

• Identify the roles of managed care professionals in facilitating access to HIV prevention

It even includes an interactive activity, which I recommend skipping.

Regardless, over the past year and a half or so that I’ve been covering PrEP, there has been a noticeable increase in articles, events, and activities seemingly designed to convince large numbers of people that this is the best thing ever! (When something was nowhere and it’s suddenly everywhere, you might rightly ask yourself: Why?)

I guess the message of “PrEP Aware Week” is: Join the movement and be “retained in care” for life. You’d better hope that you don’t end up joining the 26,000 plus victims of the Truvada disaster, which apparently has given the powers that be no pause whatsoever. Unfortunately, this is a public health disaster in the making. Hopefully, the events of the past three years will serve as a cautionary tale.

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If you’re a new reader and would like some background as to my views on HIV AIDS, including the “existence” question, please refer to this post and the links contained therein.