Biannual HIV Vaccine Begins

Zimbabwe has officially rolled out its latest HIV prevention tool, with Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora launching the first phase of the national programme for Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis that provides six months of protection per dose.

Launching the programme, Dr. Mombeshora said that the introduction of the new drug does not replace existing HIV prevention options but rather serves to complement them.

He encouraged the public to seek accurate information from trained health professionals regarding the new method.

The rollout positions Zimbabwe among the first countries globally to introduce the next-generation prevention method, with the initial phase targeting more than 46 000 individuals at high risk.

Priority groups include adolescent girls, young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and pregnant or breastfeeding women in areas with elevated infection rates.

Health officials have established 24 sites across priority urban centres including Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare and Chitungwiza, with plans to expand to additional districts.

Nearly 400 health workers have already received specialised training to administer the injection and manage recipients.

Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor that blocks the protein shell the HIV virus needs to replicate, offering long-lasting protection without the need for daily pills. Clinical trials demonstrated significant efficacy, with zero infections recorded among women who received the drug in the PURPOSE 1 trial, and a 96 percent reduction compared to background incidence among men and transgender people in the PURPOSE 2 trial.

The first consignment of the drug arrived in the country two weeks ago and was cleared by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was selected in August 2025 as one of ten countries for a global early access programme, reflecting international confidence in the country’s HIV response systems.

The initiation regimen requires two injections and oral tablets on day one, with follow-up injections administered every six months.

Health authorities have stressed that PrEP is strictly for individuals who test HIV negative and is neither a vaccine nor a cure.

Dr. Mombeshora reiterated that the new option does not replace individual responsibility in making informed decisions to protect oneself and others.