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The world’s largest celebration of LGBTQI lifestyles is coming to Australia next month, and revelers are warned to take precautions by stocking up on HIV preventive medications.
The WorldPride festival will run from February 17 to March 5 and will feature hundreds of events. Approximately 500,000 partygoers are expected to join the celebrations.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, protects against HIV infection. However, sexual health clinics advise PrEP users to fill their prescriptions before to the event.
Matthew Vaughan, director of HIV and Sexual Health at ACON, stated that the surge of visitors is expected to boost drug demand, thus it is prudent to be prepared.
Beginning in February, Sydney will host WorldPride, which is anticipated to attract tens of thousands of visitors 
Near the Opera House steps, a group of drag queens and supporters assemble with the Sydney WorldPride 2023 logo.
He stated that he did not anticipate a scarcity of the essential medicine in which Australia has become a global leader.
If eligible, festivalgoers have also been asked to schedule an mpox – formerly known as monkeypox – vaccination.
Mr. Vaughan told the Sydney Morning Herald, “This is the first time that WorldPride has been held in the southern hemisphere, and when we think about the countries in our region, many still criminalize homosexuality and do not have access to HIV testing or PrEP.”
“We wish to guarantee that individuals have access. We have been collaborating closely with local health districts to ensure access and education opportunities.
The number of men infected with HIV has decreased dramatically since PrEP, a daily medication, became accessible.
The state of New South Wales now intends to eradicate the disease entirely by 2025.
In June, drag queens pose for photographs on the Opera House steps as Sydney prepares to host the WorldPride celebration in 2023.
Tablets containing pre-exposure prophylaxis, sometimes known as PrEP, minimize the risk of HIV transmission.
Mr Vaughan is also advising people to book in for an mpox – formerly known as monkeypox – vaccine if eligible.
Normal antiviral treatment consists of two doses administered four weeks apart.
“We’ve done a great job in Australia preventing high mpox rates, but we are aware that many of the countries from which our visitors come have higher rates,” he added.
Sexual health services and specialized clinics will be open for extra hours during the festival to accommodate the surge in visitors.
Prior to the event, GPs and nurses will receive specialized training in HIV and STI testing, diagnosis, and support services.
Visitors to the WorldPride celebration are encouraged to acquire the mpox (previously known as monkey pox) vaccine (pictured)
The first WorldPride festival was held in Rome in 2020, and the two-week event is typically conducted every two years in a new global metropolis.
WorldPride will coincide with the 50th Australian Gay Pride Week and the 45th Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras.
For New Year’s Eve fireworks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was illuminated in the colors of the Rainbow Flag to commemorate major achievements.
During the celebration, the bridge will be blocked to allow a Pride March to take place.
This will be the first time since 2008’s World Youth Day events that the bridge has been closed.
»Gay men are adviced to stock up on HIV medications at WorldPrise Festival«