Walmart pharmacy in Hartford adds specialty: HIV awareness

Hartford-area residents concerned with possible exposure to HIV can get advice at the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Alliance and other public health initiatives.

But effective last month, the community has a new place to go to get their HIV questions answered: Walmart.

On Feb. 24, the Hartford Supercenter at 495 Flatbush Ave. unveiled a HIV-focused specialty pharmacy. All of the store’s pharmacists will be trained in HIV issues.

There are four such HIV-focused Walmart pharmacies in the country. The other three are in New Jersey.

“Data through the CDC shows that for every 100,000 Connecticut residents, 345 are living with HIV,” said Jillian Hintz, the head pharmacist for the Hartford “SPOC” (specialty pharmacy of the community).

Walmart offers PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medication, a pill regimen that can protect the body before it is infected with HIV. PrEP is widely used by people in demographics vulnerable to HIV.

“They made the decision to open the HIV pharmacy based on PrEP-to-need ratio,” Hintz said. “There are a number of individuals in the area who could benefit from being on PrEP.”

She added that Walmart pharmacists will emphasize community HIV awareness.

“We are focusing pharmacist technicians’ training to help patients or anybody in the store who just wants to talk about (HIV) and see what their risk level is,” Hintz said.

Hintz pointed out that SB1102, which was introduced in the current session of the state General Assembly, would allow pharmacists to become certified to order and administer HIV and other tests to adults and to minors with caregiver permission, and to initiate PrEP treatment. That bill was approved by the General Law Committee on March 9.

Hintz said if it is passed, the pharmacy will offer that service, too.

“We will keep up with what the state allows us to do as our scope of practice shifts and changes,” she said.

Linda Estabrook, executive director of the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, said the collective — which refers clients to medical providers for prescriptions and care — is encouraged by the opening of the SPOC.

“It is an interesting concept of bringing HIV prevention and treatment into venues not traditionally known for such work, but are very accessible to the community,” Estabrook said.

“Hopefully such efforts and partnerships will decrease stigma and discrimination, and get us closer to the zero new infections and zero deaths from HIV/AIDS,” Estabrook said. “One of my hopes … is the increased visibility they will bring to HIV/AIDS, which can hopefully result in … more people getting into care and staying in care.”

The specialty pharmacy resulted from Walmart’s partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Walmart also is a cofounder of Action to End HIV, a coalition of businesses committed to ending HIV in the United States by 2030.

The Walmart pharmacy is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.