Earlier this month, a resident of Cape Town became one of the pioneering recipients of a groundbreaking HIV prevention injection, marking a significant milestone beyond clinical trials.
The new injection offers two months of protection from HIV with a single shot.
This injection utilises a long-acting formulation of the antiretroviral drug cabotegravir, known as CAB-LA.
“We were filled with both excitement and nervousness because we didn’t know how this person would react to the injection,” explained nurse and study coordinator Pakama Mapukata.
Mapukata further mentioned that the individual responded positively to the injection. Additionally, the recipient noted that the CAB-LA shot was less painful compared to previous injections received for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Although the injection is not widely accessible to the general public yet, a select group in the country can obtain it through various pilot projects.
One of these initiatives is the FAST PrEP study, spearheaded by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) in Cape Town.
Technically, access to the jab is confined to a FAST PrEP sub-study named Prepare to Choose.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which entails using antiretrovirals to prevent HIV infection, is accessible in various forms, including pills, vaginal rings, and injections.
Elzette Rousseau, the lead co-investigator in the implementation team for FAST PrEP, reported that five individuals opted for the CAB-LA injection on the initial day of its availability.
“The first two, at least, that came through were a young MSM [men who have sex with men] and one was a young woman, which is definitely exciting because that is the population that we would want to come to our services which will benefit most from it,” she stated.
As of February 21, a total of 19 CAB-LA injections had been administered in South Africa.