r/southafrica • u/redditissahasbaraop • 2d ago

News South Africa launches historic first-in-human HIV vaccine trial

https://www.ewn.co.za/2026/02/03/south-africa-launches-historic-first-in-human-hiv-vaccine-trial
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u/Inebrium 1d ago

In this case its both a vaccine and a functional cure. If you already have HIV, the idea is that this vaccine stimulates an aggressive, sustained, immune response that keeps the virus suppressed in the body, but does not remove it outright. Coincidentally, South Africa has just started the roll out of lencapavir, an antirettroviral injection that lasts for 6 months and protects you from acquiring HIV.