A twice‑yearly injection that can prevent HIV is being used in Arizona as public‑health officials and clinics respond to a recent uptick in new diagnoses, a surge that has hit young men of color disproportionately.
Advocates and clinicians say the long‑acting shot — administered only once every six months — could be a key tool in reversing the recent rise in infections. The dosing schedule is seen as an alternative to daily preventive pills, offering patients a less frequent regimen.
A clinician wearing gloves prepares a twice-yearly HIV‑prevention injection for a patient during a clinic visit in Arizona.
The injection is given during clinic visits by trained staff. Images from Arizona clinics show clinicians preparing the dose while wearing gloves, reflecting the standard precautions taken for in‑office administration.
Stacks of Yeztugo (lenacapavir) injection boxes — the long‑acting subcutaneous medication approved as a twice‑yearly option for HIV prevention.
The product being offered in the state is a long‑acting subcutaneous medication presented in boxed injections and intended for twice‑yearly dosing. That formulation provides a preventive option delivered on a semiannual schedule.
Public‑health leaders and care providers have emphasized the potential of this twice‑yearly approach to broaden prevention access and reach populations experiencing rising rates of new HIV diagnoses. Clinics across Arizona are incorporating the injections into patient care during routine visits, making the option available as part of existing prevention services.
As the state tracks the changing pattern of new HIV cases, the twice‑yearly shot stands out as a distinctly different delivery method from daily preventive pills. For individuals and communities affected by the recent spike — especially young men of color — the shot offers an alternative that reduces the need for daily adherence while still providing protection when administered on schedule.
Clinics in Arizona are preparing and administering the injection during patient visits, and the medication’s packaging and in‑clinic handling reflect its role as a twice‑yearly preventative option. Health systems and community providers are continuing efforts to align delivery of this medication with prevention strategies aimed at the populations most affected by the recent increases in new diagnoses.