PrEP badge

New Zealand AIDS Foundation staff, educators and outreach volunteers wore this simple cardboard badge to raise the visibility of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is the use of medications which prevent the spread of disease in people who have not yet been exposed to a disease-causing agent, which is usually a virus.

The term typically refers to the specific use of antiviral drugs as a strategy for preventing the acquisition of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). It is particularly suitable for communities most affected by HIV, including gay, bisexual, other men who have sex with men (cis or trans) and transgender women, who are not consistently using condoms with casual and new partners. PrEP engages users in regular health screening which leads to prompt diagnosis and treatment.