Experts urge caution over HIV prevention injection

What the report says

Health experts in Uganda are urging people who have started using lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, not to treat it as a vaccine or a standalone solution. According to The Independent Uganda, officials say recipients should continue using combination prevention methods and return for follow-up doses on schedule to keep protection levels effective.

The report says the first group of recipients is due for a second dose in October, after the drug was launched in April and rolled out to 103 health facilities nationwide. Uganda AIDS Commission policy official Dr Vincent Bagambe said the country hopes the new option will help reduce annual HIV infections, but only if users remain compliant with dosing and other prevention measures. The Ministry of Health said most facilities that received the first shipment have now also received a second batch, after supplies ran down faster than expected.

Officials also said demand has exceeded the limited stock available. The article notes that lenacapavir is currently very expensive at about $28,000 per dose, so Uganda is relying on donations rather than government procurement for now. A further shipment is expected, though the ministry had earlier been told delivery would be delayed because of shortages of a companion tablet used as a loading dose.

The story adds broader public health context: experts are still encouraging condoms, PrEP and PEP tablets, and faithful partnerships as proven HIV prevention options, especially given low use of prevention services among some high-risk groups.