The Top 10 myths about HIV Vaccine
The Top 10 myths about HIV Vaccine
Newswise – SEATTLE – December 1 is World AIDS Day and to commemorate the occasion, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, based at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, debunks 10 myths about research on HIV vaccines.
Myth No. 1: HIV vaccine can be given to people with HIV. HIV vaccines do not contain HIV, and therefore a person can not get HIV from vaccines against HIV. Some vaccines, such as typhoid fever or polio, may contain a weak form of the virus they are protecting against, but this is not the case of HIV vaccines. Scientists make HIV vaccines that look like real viruses, but do not contain HIV. Think of it as a photocopy: It may look similar, but not the original. In the last 25 years over 30. 000 volunteers have participated in studies of HIV vaccines worldwide, and no one has been infected with HIV through any of the vaccines tested – because they do not contain HIV.
Myth No. 2: An HIV vaccines already exists. There is no licensed vaccine against HIV or AIDS, but scientists are closer than ever to develop an effective vaccine against HIV. In 2009, a study of the vaccine on a large scale in Thailand called RV144 showed that a combination of the vaccine could prevent 32 percent of new infections. Researchers are beginning to understand why this combination of the vaccine worked and how to improve.
Researchers around the world continue to search for an HIV vaccine is even more effective. The head of this effort is the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the largest group of publicly funded research HIV vaccine in the world. The HVTN is an international effort to find a safe and effective vaccine to stop the spread of HIV. It is funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Myth No. 3: Joining a study of HIV vaccine is like being a guinea pig. Unlike guinea pigs, people can say yes or not to participate in research. All study volunteers must go through a process called informed consent to ensure that you understand all the risks and benefits of participating in a study, and volunteers are reminded that they can withdraw at any time without losing any rights or benefits. The HVTN is careful to ensure that people understand the full study before deciding whether or not to participate. All research adheres to the U.S. HVTNfederal regulations on research and international standards for countries that carried out the research.
Myth No. 4: A person must be HIV positive in a study of HIV vaccines. Not so. While some research groups are conducting studies of vaccines that could be used in people already infected with HIV, vaccines are being tested by the HVTN are preventive vaccines. Should be tested on volunteers who are not infected with HIV.
Myth No. 5: Vaccine Researchers want to study participants practice risk behaviors so they can see if the vaccine actually works. It is not true. The safety of study participants is priority No. 1 vaccine research HIV and study site staff. Trained counselors work with study participants to help them develop an individualized plan of how to avoid contracting HIV. Participants also receive supplies such as condoms and lubricants as well as instructions on how to use them correctly. HIV testing effectively recruits thousands of participants over several years, and even with the best advice some participants still infected through risk behaviors. Changing human behavior is never easy; after all, many people still smoke, although it is well known that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. An AIDS epidemic would not exist if prevention is as simple as advising people to change their risk behaviors.
Myth No. 6: Now that there are pills that can prevent HIV infection, a vaccine against HIV is no longer necessary. HIV-negative people who are at high risk can take antiretroviral drugs daily to try to reduce the chances of becoming infected if exposed to the virus. This type of therapy – called PrEP, short pre-exposure prophylaxis – has proven to be effective among people at high risk. However, there has not been recommended for widespread use. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is unlikely to be an option for everyone, because the pills are expensive and not always covered by insurance, can cause side effects, and not everyone has access to them. Remembering to take a pill every day is a challenge for some people. The most effective way to eliminate a disease is through the use of an effective vaccine. It was a vaccine that eliminated smallpox and polio has virtually eliminated. Most likely it will be a vaccine against HIV, eliminating HIV in the world. Vaccines are an effective alternative, affordable and practical.
Myth No. 7: A vaccine for HIV AIDS is not necessary because it is easy to treat and control, such as diabetes. While treatment for AIDS has improved dramatically over the past 30 years is not a substitute for prevention. Current anti-HIV drugs are very expensive, and there are many side effects. Sometimes, people develop drug resistance and have to change the regime of pills they take. Access to these drugs for the uninsured in the U.S. and developing countries is also very limited.
Myth No. 8: The search for an HIV vaccine has been happening for a long time and just can not find one that works. The science of HIV vaccine development is a challenge, but scientific knowledge continues to improve all the time. Only in the last two years have been promising results of the RV144 study in Thailand, as well as laboratory work interesting, as the discovery of new broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. HIV is a powerful opponent, but scientists are constantly learning from each other and use advanced technology to fight it. Science has come a long way in the 30 years since AIDS was discovered. By comparing the work of preventing HIV vaccine for vaccine development, the time taken is not so surprising; the polio vaccine took 47 years to develop.
Myth No. 9: vaccines cause autism and are simply not safe. This is not true. Numerous studies over the last ten years have found that this statement is untrue. The British doctor who published originally searching for information about vaccines and autism has since been found to have falsified their data. There really is no relationship between childhood vaccinations and autism. It is true that vaccines have side effects, but these are usually temporary (such as arm pain, low fever, muscle aches) and disappear after one or two days. The value of the protection of those vaccinated and the public has made the vaccine a major public health measures in history, only to have a supply of drinking water.
Myth # 10: People who are not at risk do not need an HIV vaccines. A person who can not currently be at risk for HIV, but life situations may change, along with the risk of disease. This vaccine may also be important for children or other relatives and friends. On being informed about the investigation of a preventive vaccine against HIV, a person can be part of the solution by educating your friends and family about the importance of research and debunking the myths that surround it. Even if a person is not at risk, he or she may be part of efforts to find a vaccine that is expected to save the lives of millions of people around the world. For more information or to find out how to participate in a study of HIV vaccine, please visit www.hvtn.org
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV / AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers, including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for health, knowledge and hope to their work and the world.
