It very well could be! HIV PrEP is for anyone looking to reduce their risk of getting HIV. It is generally recommended for those at a higher risk for HIV, including (but not limited to):

1. Men who have sex with men / Transgender women and gender diverse people.
2. Heterosexual women and men who have higher-risk exposure (such as having a partner with known HIV infection, sex workers, or having sex with a person at high risk for HIV)
3. People who inject drugs

You can also read our article Is PrEP for me?

If you take PrEP as recommended (daily), the medication helps stop HIV from spreading and taking hold. PrEP interferes with the pathways that HIV uses to cause permanent infection.

With daily use, PrEP is effective at reducing your risk of getting HIV from sex by 99%, according to the US Center for Disease Control (CDC).

90%+ of Freddie's patients get free PrEP! The cost of PrEP varies by province and by the PrEP drug option you choose: generic Truvada or Descovy. Here is a quick summary:

Alberta / Saskatchewan

PrEP using generic Truvada is free for everyone who clinically qualifies! You can take our one minute PrEP assessment to see if you qualify for free PrEP.

PrEP using Descovy is $900/month, but if you have private insurance, we can help you access Descovy for free!

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British Columbia

PrEP is free for British Columbia residents who are enrolled under the province’s Medical Services Plan.

‍With public insurance: Patients can get PrEP for free by physically visiting a doctor or clinic within theThe BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS network.

‍With private insurance: Most patients can access the newest form of PrEP with fewer reported side effects through Freddie for $0. Plus you have the added benefit of gaining access to online care.

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Ontario

PrEP using generic truvada is free if you are 24 years old and younger, or are covered by Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

If you are aged 25+, you generally need to pay for PrEP. However, Freddie has financial assistance programs that make PrEP free or low cost! You can read more about these programs in our article Freddie's financial assistance or take our one minute PrEP assessment.

And if you are in between coverage or waiting for it to start, Freddie can provide three months of free PrEP. We're here for you!

PrEP using Descovy is $900/month, but if you have private insurance, we can help you access Descovy for free!

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Other provinces

For provinces not listed above, all have released criteria that enable you to be fully or partially covered for PrEP. Freddie currently serves Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

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Coverage for Indigenous peoples‍

PrEP is available at no cost for Indigenous folks who are covered by the federal non-insured health benefits program (for Status First Nations and Inuit peoples).

Side effects with PrEP are low, but they vary by the drug you use.

With generic truvada, less than 10% of people experience PrEP side effects. And those that do have them typically only do for a short while as their body gets used to the drug, and then they subside. 

With Descovy, side effects are lower. And similar to generic truvada, they subside for most people over time.

While side effects are certainly a concern, regular check-ins with your clinician ensure that you do well on PrEP and if you do experience side effects, they are managed.

There are two common options for PrEP in Canada: generic truvada and Descovy. Both drugs are equally effective and reduce the risk of acquiring HIV by 99%.

Generic truvada is the drug commonly used for PrEP in Canada. It has been used for years and is used by hundreds of thousands of people in Canada and around the world. 90%+ of Freddie patients get it for free.

Descovy is a newer, brand name drug. It causes fewer side effects in some people, and fewer bone and kidney issues when used for more than two years in some people. However Descovy is expensive unless you have private insurance (if you do, Freddie can very likely help you get Descovy for free).

90%+ of Freddie patients get one of these two great options for PrEP for free. We’ll work with you to find you the lowest cost option.

There is NO evidence of interaction between PrEP and any COVID vaccines approved in Canada. In other words, there is no reason that being on PrEP should stop you from getting vaccinated. In fact we encourage you to get the vaccine to protect yourself and everyone around you.

Yes! The vast majority of labs are not conducting COVID testing, which generally takes place at specific COVID testing centres. You can visit a lab and feel comfortable that you will not be around patients with COVID symptoms. All labs have safety precautions to protect patients as well as their staff.

Freddie is a Canadian healthcare provider that currently serves residents of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.