...Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health (CPH) has been awarded a grant from pass through agency, University of Washington (UW); primary funding source originates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This funding supports the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $512,389.00 in grant monies to fund the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program, for the period September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2026.
In June 2024, the CDC officially recommended the use of Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Doxy PEP is a way to prevent syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea by taking the antibiotic doxycycline after condomless sex. It's a single 200 mg dose taken within 24 hours, but no later than 72 hours, after unprotected sex. This grant from University of Washington will be used to engage health care providers in using DoxyPEP in their practice, when clinically indicated.
CPH submitted the initial grant application on January 17, 2025 and was working with the University of Washington in the design and ideation phase when the CDC abruptly terminated funding in May 2025. The University of Washington informed CPH on December 4, 2025 that funding was reinstated and awarded CPH $512,389.00 for the grant period starting September 30, 2025 and ending September 29, 2026. This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to avoid being at risk for forfeiture of funds and grant start date of September 30, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program is entirely funded by the University of Washington and does not require a city match. ($512,389.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept grant funds from the University of Washington in the amount of $512,389.00 and any additional funds for t...
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