While governor of Indiana, Vice President Mike Pence reluctantly agreed to authorize a needle exchange program after a HIV epidemic saw the number of people infected skyrocket.

"It's a huge step forward to have public coverage and access."

The province celebrated the six-month milestone since the province introduced no-cost coverage of PrEP and expanded assess to PEP for high-risk patients in a news conference Tuesday morning.

PrEP, an HIV-prevention drug regime, might be associated with lower condom use in the gay community, according to recent research.

HIV Community Link's director of programs is optimistic about strategies to deal with the virus in the new year.

"By providing PharmaCare coverage it means that more individuals, including those who may not have the means, can have access to a really important HIV prevention tool."

Inconsistent coverage by private group benefits is keeping HIV prevention drug Truvada out of the hands of some who are at risk of contracting the virus.

For some Albertans, getting access to Truvada can be extremely difficult due to high cost and lack of coverage under health insurance.

Doctors say Charlie Sheen may have inadvertently shed light on HIV prevention: since his HIV positive confession, there’s been “record levels” of HIV testing.