By Angella Langat, MBS, director at the National Syndemic Diseases Council.
Following the recent introduction of Lenacapavir in Kenya, some media stations described Lenacapavir as an “HIV prevention vaccine.” It is not a vaccine.
Lenacapavir is a medicine given to people who do not have HIV to help prevent them from getting infected. It is called PrEP — short for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is taken before someone is exposed to HIV, and in this case, it is given as an injection every six months.
A vaccine trains your body to fight a disease for a long time, sometimes for life. Lenacapavir does not work like that. It only protects someone for as long as they continue receiving the injection every six months. If they stop, the protection stops.
That difference is very important.
Kenya recorded 19,991 new HIV infections in 2024. That number increased by 19 percent from the previous year. Most of the new infections among young people happened to adolescent girls and young women. Ten counties account for more than half of new infections.
This means prevention is still urgent. But if people are told this is a vaccine, confusion will follow.
Some people may think one injection means lifetime protection. Others may reject it because they are tired of hearing about vaccines. Some may argue about whether it should be “mandatory,” which it is not.
Others may wrongly debate whether only men or only women should take it.
Lenacapavir is not for one gender, it is for anyone who is HIV-negative and at risk of infection. It is a personal choice, given in consultation with a health provider.
Kenya has made progress in HIV treatment. Many people living with HIV are on medicine and doing well. But prevention remains key. Once someone is infected, treatment is lifelong. Preventing infection in the first place saves families, protects children, and reduces deaths.
For prevention to work, people must trust what they are told. And trust begins with correct information.
When media houses use the wrong word, even by mistake, it can create fear or misunderstanding. Health communication must be clear, simple, and accurate.
Lenacapavir is a preventive HIV medicine given every six months. It is not a vaccine, it does not give lifetime immunity, it is voluntary, it is part of HIV prevention not a replacement for other methods like condoms and testing.
Kenya needs innovation. But we also need clarity. Because in public health, the right words can save lives — and the wrong ones can cause confusion.
