In this commentary, the authors highlight how the COVID-19 pandemic has a range of negative effects on HIV prevention in Africa, both well documented HIV service interruptions and less well appreciated effects of the socio-structural context that put people at risk of HIV (e.g. loss of earnings, stigma). The authors call on the global community to unpack and address these factors as the pandemic surges in Africa. They point to best practices and tools from decades of socio-behavioural research and programming responses in the HIV field that can be applied to COVID-19 efforts, including for vaccines being rolled out.