By Richard Levine, MD; Alberto Pascucci, PA; and J.A. Scherer, APN, Virtua Pride Primary Care

At Virtua Pride Primary Care, we're not only here to help you be well, get well, and stay well — but close the gap on preventative LGBTQ+ care. And that starts by establishing routine check-ups, staying on top of necessary immunizations, and knowing which screenings you should schedule. That's where we can help!

Health and Wellness Resources

Here are some resources that we recommend so that you can stay on top of your health:

Vaccines

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) “Gardasil”
• Meningitis
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• Shingles
• Pneumonia
• Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) vaccine and testing
• Covid-19 vaccine (Bivalent booster only)
• Flu (during flu season only)

HIV prevention

• PrEP, a daily pill or bi-monthly (every other month) injection that protects against HIV
• PeP, a treatment to prevent HIV after possible exposure

STI screenings and prevention

• HIV (at least once a year)
• Syphilis
• Hepatitis C if you were born between 1945 to 1965 or with risk behaviors
• Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing
• Doxy PEP, which is the use of the antibiotic doxycycline after sexual activity to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

Mental health referrals

Once you’re established with one of our providers at Virtua Pride Primary Care, we can connect you with our in-house licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). That way you’ll be able to get the care you need for any of your health concerns, physical or mental.

A word on HIV Prevention

Thanks to medical advances and public health initiatives, we can now significantly prevent the spread of HIV like never before. And here's everything you need to know about medications designed to protect you against HIV.

What is PrEP?

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a daily pill or bi-monthly injection that helps prevent HIV. It's designed for people who have not been exposed to the HIV virus. And it's been proven to reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 99%.

How does PrEP work?

When HIV enters your body, it targets your cells and copies itself. PrEP builds up defenses in your body and prevents the virus from multiplying.

Is PrEP right for me?

PrEP is for anyone who wants protection from HIV. But the CDC recommends taking it if you have an HIV-positive partner, have anal or vaginal sex without condom use, inject drugs, or if you’ve been diagnosed with an STI within the past 6 months.

What’s the difference between PrEP and PeP?

PeP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication that can be taken within a 72-hour window after a known exposure to HIV. Typically, PeP is only offered in emergency departments. But at Virtua Pride Primary Care, you can receive this medication without making a trip to the hospital.

Connect to care at Virtua Pride Primary Care.

At Virtua Pride Primary Care, we deliver inclusive care in a safe, welcoming environment. Connect with our team today!