Illinois makes PrEP available from pharmacist without Rx

Inside Coffee Lab Evanston. Photo: Gerald Farinas.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) just made it much easier for people to protect themselves from HIV.

Thanks to a new standing order from the Administration, you can now get PrEP—a medication that prevents HIV—directly from a pharmacist without needing to see a doctor first.

This is a huge step forward.

PrEP (short for pre-exposure prophylaxis) is extremely effective.

When taken correctly, it can lower the chance of getting HIV from sex by up to 99%.

Making it more accessible is a no-brainer, especially for communities at higher risk.

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra signed the order, which allows pharmacists to provide either of the two common oral PrEP medications and get reimbursed for their services.

This means people at risk can go straight to the pharmacy and get started right away—cutting out delays and doctor visits that can be barriers for many.

This kind of program should exist in every single state. In fact, the federal government should fully fund efforts like this nationwide.

HIV is still a real issue, and the tools to prevent it are already in our hands—we just need the will to make them available to everyone.

Here in Illinois, Gov. Pritzker and his Getting to Zero Illinois plan aims to end new HIV cases by 2030.

We’re making progress: in 2024, new HIV diagnoses dropped 9% from the previous year.

But there’s still work to do.

Black and Hispanic communities are hit the hardest, making up over 60% of new cases each year.

That’s why expanding access to PrEP—especially in these communities—is so critical.

The state’s PrEP4IL program helps people who can’t afford the medication.

Last year, over 900 people applied, and more Black and Hispanic individuals are getting the help they need.

This new standing order is another big step in the right direction.

“IDPH is proud of the impact the PrEP4IL program is having,” said Director Vohra. “This standing order opens more doors so more people can get access to this powerful medication.”

Here’s how it works: Illinois law allows pharmacists to offer PrEP if there’s a standing order from a doctor or the IDPH Director.

Pharmacists who want to participate have to go through training. They’ll learn how to offer PrEP in a safe and private way, how to order tests, and how to keep records properly.

PrEP is usually taken as one pill a day.

It’s meant for people who don’t have HIV but may be at risk—for example, if:

• Your sexual partner is HIV-positive.

• Your partner uses injection drugs.

• You don’t always use condoms.

• You’ve had an STI in the last 6 months.

• You share needles or other drug equipment.

If any of this applies to you or someone you care about, you can get more information at www.PrEPforIllinois.com or call the PrEP helpline at 1-833-773-7445 (1-833-PREP4IL).

This is public health done right.

Let’s make sure Illinois isn’t the only state doing it.

We need programs like this everywhere—and we need full support from the federal government to make it happen.