Africa Launches Breakthrough HIV‑Prevention Shot — Over 99.9% Protection Reported!

Africa Launches Breakthrough HIV‑Prevention Shot — Over 99.9% Protection Reported!

Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa

A new, long‑acting HIV‑prevention injection — Lenacapavir — is now being rolled out in Africa, with the first public administrations beginning in South Africa, Eswatini and Zambia. The drug is being hailed by global health experts as a potential “game‑changer” in the fight against the HIV epidemic across the continent. [1]

What’s New

• Lenacapavir is administered as an injection twice a year, rather than daily pills, simplifying prevention efforts for many at‑risk individuals. [2]
• Clinical data indicate the shot reduces the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9%, effectively functioning like a powerful HIV‑prevention vaccine. [1]
• The rollout began this week, with the first recipients already receiving the injection as part of national public‑health initiatives. [3]

Why It Matters

• Sub‑Saharan Africa carries the highest global burden of HIV, and a long‑acting prevention option could drastically cut new infections — especially in hard‑hit communities.
• The shift from daily pills to a twice‑yearly shot may boost adherence, reduce stigmatization, and potentially lower new HIV transmission rates — particularly among young people, sex workers, and high‑risk groups. [4]
• Public‑health authorities describe this as the first real‑world, large‑scale deployment of a “true‑to‑life” HIV‑prevention injection in a low‑ and middle‑income region. [2] What to Watch
• Availability and access: how quickly and widely lenacapavir will be made available across African countries beyond the first three.
• Affordability and equity: ensuring vulnerable and marginalized populations — particularly in rural or resource‑poor areas — have access to the drug.
• Impact monitoring: tracking reductions in new HIV infections and evaluating long‑term effectiveness and safety of the shot.
• Support systems: strengthening healthcare infrastructure, education, and stigma‑reduction efforts to maximize impact.

Citations:

1. Punch Newspapers: punchng.com/africa-unveils-hiv-prevention-shot-with-99-9-protection/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Unitaid: unitaid.org/news-blog/lenacapavir-use-kicks-off-in-south-africa-and-brazil-through-unitaid-partnership-with-wits-rhi-and-fiocruz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. Nova News: novanews.co.za/groundbreaking-hiv-prevention-shots-begin-rolling-out-across-africa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. Vox: www.vox.com/future-perfect/464468/lenacapavir-hiv-drug-pepfar-foreign-aid-gilead-drug?utm_source=chatgpt.com

About The Author

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan

editor

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan is a dynamic journalist and editorial leader committed to excellence in news reporting and storytelling. As the Editor-in-Chief of Sele Media Africa, she ensures daily operations run smoothly while upholding the highest editorial standards. With a strong eye for detail and deep understanding of audience engagement, Marian coordinates content across platforms, guiding teams to produce compelling, timely, and credible news. Her leadership reflects the heart of Sele Media Africa’s mission—to inform, inspire, and elevate voices across the continent.

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