Experts believe that we are not going to be able to treat [our] way out of this HIV/AIDS epidemic, but we are ultimately going to need a vaccine to shut it down.
1.According to CNN, a vaccine against HIV
will be trialed in South Africa in November 2016 after meeting the
criteria needed to prove it could help fight the epidemic in Africa.
2.The reports says a small trial, known as
HVTN100,
took place in South Africa in 2015 to test the safety and
strength of immunity the vaccine could provide, ahead of any
larger-scale testing in affected populations.
3.It added that the vaccine stems from a
landmark trial in Thailand in 2009 that was the first to show any
protection against HIV, with 31% protection against the virus. This was
enough to get experts in the field excited after years with no success.
4.That the vaccine was improved for use in
the higher-risk populations of sub-Saharan Africa, where a different
subtype of the virus also exists. A new component was also introduced to
stimulate stronger immunity, known as an adjuvant.
5.It says alos that four criteria were set
as measures of its likely effectiveness, including the level of T-cell
and antibody response to fight the virus if it were to infect and
researchers say “It gives the tick on all four, it does look promising
and it should launch.”
6. Lastly, that a larger-scale trial of
the vaccine will now begin in 5,400 people across four sites in South
Africa in November 2016 and run for three years. A fifth dose of the
vaccine will also be given in hope of longer-lasting protection.
