More than 55 000 South Africans receive twice-yearly HIV prevention injection

More than 55 000 people have been initiated on lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention medication, since its national rollout in June.

The Department of Health said 55 123 people had received lenacapavir as of 7 September 2026, following the national launch by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on 5 June.

The medication has been rolled out at 360 public health facilities across 24 districts in six provinces.

Gauteng recorded the highest number of initiations, with 26 357 people receiving lenacapavir, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 11 941.

North West recorded 4 479 initiations, while the Western Cape had 4 446, Mpumalanga 4 294 and the Eastern Cape 3 606.

Women account for the majority of recipients, with females making up 71% of those initiated. The department said most of these recipients are pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Lenacapavir is being provided as part of a comprehensive HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme alongside other available HIV prevention options.

The Department of Health said it is working with provincial health departments, healthcare workers and implementing partners to monitor uptake, availability of the medication, quality of services, client follow-up and safety.

Lenacapavir has been approved and registered by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) as safe and effective for preventing HIV infection, following a review of preclinical, clinical and manufacturing data.

The department urged people who experience serious or persistent adverse events after receiving the injection to report them promptly to healthcare workers at their nearest health facility.

It said the rollout would continue to be guided by evidence, clinical monitoring and strengthened pharmacovigilance measures, including the rapid investigation of any serious adverse events.