HIV vaccine approved for human trials

[willow5]

I came across this article this afternoon, very big news. I just hope it doesn't lead to complacency.

Canada News: Canadian-developed HIV vaccine approved for human studies - thestar.com

[Ginger]

Wow! That would be awesome if it all works out.

[Maruschke]

I really wonder about the political side of things, getting that vaccine out to the people who need it in developing nations. Sigh. FX this vaccine works and soon (relatively speaking) we can see an affordable available vaccine for those at high risk. There are a lot of superstitions that need to be broken before that will occur though.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

How are they going to ethically test the vaccine? I'm a bit scared that this won't work but no-one wants to report it and of course you can't test it by injecting a volunteer with HIV, can you?

[willow5]

How are they going to ethically test the vaccine? I'm a bit scared that this won't work but no-one wants to report it and of course you can't test it by injecting a volunteer with HIV, can you?

Good point TFB. I think there are probably ethical problems with testing all vaccines, but the push for getting them through for use is so huge they manage it.
If/when it gets approved for use, I hope it doesn't lead to worldwide complacency for those having the vax. Unless by some huge miracle this proves to be the only vax that is 100% effective, then it could lead to a false sense of security. Especially if it is marketed in the same way most are. eg: "The cervical cancer vaccine"

[LionsandBears]

The small pox vaccine has to be one of the marvels of modern medicine, saving unknown millions. If they are able to develop a HIV vaccine, then they could potentially save millions of lives. It sounds like it's decades away from being possible, given the complexity of HIV, but any step is a positive step.

ETA: a malaria vaccine would be a marvel too.

[Novella]

I do hope they have success. I would assume they would test it on high risk patients such as those having an intimate relationship with someone who was HIV + or living in areas with a very high incidence of the disease.

I agree the cost of the vaccine is likely to mean it will not be available to those at the greatest risk and even then in a number of African nations there are huge social, cultural and political issues to overcome to allow for vaccination to occur.

L&B I agree a vaccine for malaria would also save hundreds of lives and is really important too