CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio) – Planned Parenthood of Illinois is expanding its HIV prevention services to include a new long-acting medication that requires only two injections a year.
The treatment, called Yeztugo, was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is now available at all 13 Planned Parenthood health centers across the state.
The injection is intended for people who are HIV-negative and considered at risk of infection, including those who may not know their partner’s HIV status, have a partner who is HIV-positive, have had a recent sexually transmitted infection or who share needles.
Brenda Wolfe, senior director of clinical education and initiatives for Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said the long-acting shot offers a discreet, low-maintenance option. She noted it is especially important for Black women, who face disproportionately high rates of new HIV diagnoses nationwide.
“We are proud to expand care for our patients and provide education and resources so they can make informed decisions about what’s best for themselves and their future,” Wolfe said in a statement.
The injectable drug works by blocking a protein that HIV needs to replicate. Planned Parenthood will continue offering oral PrEP, a daily pill, along with counseling and education.
The new offering is part of the state’s “Getting to Zero Illinois” campaign, which aims to end the HIV epidemic in Illinois by 2030 through prevention, care, and advocacy.