New HIV Prevention Shot Reaches 48,000 Across South Africa

Young women across South Africa are taking control of their health with a groundbreaking HIV prevention injection that only needs two shots per year.

Nearly 48,000 people have started using lenacapavir since its rollout began, with the Western Cape alone reporting 3,641 initiations across 22 government clinics. The medication offers six months of HIV protection from just two injections, compared to daily pills or shots every two months.

Olwam Plaatjie, a 20-year-old from Cape Town's Crossroads community, switched to lenacapavir after three years on the older two-month injection. "I see many people who are HIV-positive. Many of them are girls," she explains, describing why she decided to take prevention into her own hands.

The rollout prioritizes adolescent girls and young women, who face higher HIV risk. Khayelitsha's three community health centers lead the Western Cape in uptake, serving a large population of young women seeking protection. The medication works for pregnant women too, with 258 already enrolled in the Western Cape.

Lutho Windvoel, another Cape Town resident, says the six-month protection overcomes a common barrier. "Most men, when we talk about injections, they're like 'nah,'" notes Sive Mphambaniso, a youth facilitator with the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation. "Until the six-month injection came in. Now people are saying, 'It's better for me to just have the guts to take the injection, rather than taking pills every day.'"

The medicine rolled out to 360 health facilities across six provinces, with supply constraints limiting broader availability for now. Gauteng hosts more than a third of participating facilities, while KwaZulu-Natal accounts for about a quarter.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond individual protection, lenacapavir represents a shift in how vulnerable communities approach HIV prevention. Young people who previously struggled with daily medication now have a simpler option that fits their lives. The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation's Align study is tracking 1,500 participants for 18 months to understand what helps people stick with the program.

Research teams work alongside government health departments, ensuring the science translates into real-world access. Facilities chosen for the rollout had already demonstrated success with HIV prevention pills, building on existing community trust and infrastructure.

The small nodules that sometimes form at injection sites haven't dampened enthusiasm. Protection that lasts half a year means freedom from daily reminders and worry about missed doses.

Thousands of young South Africans are proving that when prevention becomes easier, more people choose it.