PEP

PEP is a 28-day course of medication that should be used only in emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours after a recent, possible exposure to HIV.

If you think you’ve recently been exposed to HIV during sex or through sharing needles and works to prepare drugs, or if you’ve been sexually assaulted, please call us at 202.797.4439 right away. We will help you.

You can access PEP at Whitman-Walker Health:

  • To access PEP Monday-Friday during Whitman-Walker Health’s hours of operation, you must call our PEP hotline at 202.797.4439 to speak with a staff member and discuss whether PEP may be an option for you.
  • If you will be proceeding with PEP at Whitman-Walker Health, a Community Health staff member will schedule you a same-day appointment for HIV testing and move forward with next steps for PEP at Whitman-Walker. You cannot walk in for PEP. You must call the PEP line at 202.797.4439 and get an appointment.

Access to PEP

PEP is time sensitive. If you are in need of PEP after Whitman-Walker Health PEP hours (Monday-Friday, 9am- before 4pm), PEP is available at any hospital emergency room. Just walk in and request it.

DC Residents who are over the age of 18 may also access PEP through telehealth by calling the 24/7 DC Department of Health PEP Hotline at 202-299-3PEP (3737). Visit their website here: GETPEP | DC PEP Hotline | Sexual + Being.