South Africa
Rollout surpasses expectations as 16,000 receive HIV prevention injection─── ZENANDE MPAME 12:17 Tue, 14 Jul 2026
More than 16,000 South Africans have received the twice-yearly Lenacapavir HIV prevention injection since its rollout as Gauteng surpassed its initial target by 31%.
The department of health has described the strong uptake as an encouraging sign communities are embracing the twice-yearly injectable, which is expected to play a key role in reducing new HIV infections and supporting the country’s goal of ending Aids as a public health threat by 2030.
Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the government had initially been concerned that misinformation about vaccines following the Covid-19 pandemic could negatively affect public acceptance of Lenacapavir, despite it not being a vaccine.
“I think there is excitement. We were scared after Covid-19 because many people would relate Lenacapavir to a vaccine.”
“So far there is no indication of that. We are working through the South African National Aids Council and its 18 sectors, and we are preparing a massive awareness campaign on radio and television to educate people.
“But so far, the uptake is quite satisfactory, meaning the message has reached quite a few people.”
Gauteng has appeared as the leading province in the rollout, exceeding its initial monthly target by a significant margin. The Gauteng department of health said more than 6,000 eligible people have received Lenacapavir since the phased rollout began on Monday, 8 June.
Lenacapavir is aimed at HIV-negative people who are at substantial risk of contracting the virus. Administered as an injection every six months, it has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99%, making it one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in recent years.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched the national rollout in Mpumalanga in June after the first shipment of the medication arrived in South Africa in April. The rollout forms part of the country’s HIV prevention strategy and aligns with the Global Aids Strategy for 2026 to 2030.
The long-acting injectable is expected to expand prevention choices and improve adherence among priority groups, including adolescent girls and young women, pregnant and breastfeeding women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people and people who inject drugs.
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