Vaccine May Reduce the Risk of HIV Infection

According to WHO and UNAIDS, an estimated 33 million people are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV, which can be contracted by the transfer of bodily fluids from infected people, essentially causes the body’s immune system to fail. Eventually, the virus can develop into acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which also reduces the immune system’s effectiveness. Infected people tend to die not from the virus itself, but rather from opportunistic bacteria and infections that can ravage the defenseless body. On average, over 2 million people die hopelessly because of the lack of a cure. Since the discovery of its cause in 1986, scientists and doctors have attempted to engineer vaccines to prevent its contraction, but research has been futile as none have been effective.

A glimmer of hope appears though, as a recent vaccine has show a positive improvement compared to previous vaccinations. In recent trials, patients were 31% less likely to contract HIV. Colonel Jerome Kim, the product manager for HIV vaccines for the U.S. army, relayed a sense of optimism, saying “Before this study, it was thought vaccine for HIV is not possible.” The U.S. army is involved because it feels that HIV is a viable threat to its service members and should provide aid to health officials and researchers in Thailand.

Although these results seem modest in a statistical sense, they are actually quite remarkable in comparison to previous HIV vaccines. The trial, being called “the world’s largest HIV vaccine trial”, vaccinated more than 16,000 patients in Thailand. The patients were initially tested to be negative at the commencement. Then, approximately half of the patients were given a placebo, while the other half were given the vaccination 6 times over a course of 6 months, and all the participants were followed for 3 years. While 74 people given the placebo contracted HIV, only 51 vaccinated people contracted it.

These results portray hope for a completely effective vaccine. Further research must be done, however Colonel Nelson Michael declares "these results show that development of a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine is possible." A cure is vital, because like cancer and other terminal illness, it is in some way connected to all us, whether an individual has it or knows somebody who is infected.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/24/hiv.vaccine/index.html?iref=newssearch

Nathan Poon
VTPP 434-502