FAQs for HIV Vaccines
1) Why do we need an HIV vaccine?
2) How would an HIV vaccine work?
3) What is the difference between a preventative vaccine and a therapeutic vaccine?
4) What are the characteristics of an effective preventative vaccine?
5) What is an HIV vaccine clinical trial?
6) What is involved during an HIV vaccine trial?
7) What are some possible side effects of an experimental HIV vaccine?
8) Can you get HIV/AIDS from a vaccine study?
9) Can you test HIV-positive as a result of receiving the vaccine?
10) How can I get involved in the search for an HIV vaccine?
1) Why do we need an HIV vaccine?
Every day 16,000 people become infected with HIV. Even if this infection rate levels off, it is estimated that 90 million people will be infected with the HIV virus by the year 2010. A preventative HIV vaccine could help stem this tide of infections.
2) How would an HIV vaccine work?
An effective HIV vaccine would produce either HIV antibodies or stimulate white blood cells (or both) to fight against HIV infection.
3) What is the difference between a preventative vaccine and a therapeutic vaccine?
Preventative vaccines would be designed to prevent HIV-negative people from becoming infected with HIV. They are not designed to cure AIDS. Therapeutic vaccines would be designed for people already infected with HIV; used in combination with anti-HIV medications, preventative vaccines would help boost their immune system.
4) What are the characteristics of an effective preventative vaccine?
- Effective for both genders and all racial and ethnic groups
- Effective on every subtype of HIV
- Protects against all routes of infection (sexual contact, intravenous drugs, mother-to-child)
- Inexpensive to manufacture
- Easy to transport and store (for use in developing countries)
- Easy to administer to patients
- Effective and long lasting
5) What is an HIV vaccine clinical trial?
An HIV vaccine trial is a study to determine the effects of an experimental vaccine on human beings. It is a carefully controlled experiment in which volunteers receive an experimental vaccine candidate to see if it is safe and effective. There are three phases of clinical trials for vaccine studies: Phase I trials, where side effects and safety are studied; Phase II trials that look for the most effective dosage and vaccination schedule (time between vaccinations); Phase III trials test the protective benefits of the experimental vaccine in thousands of people.
6) What is involved during an HIV vaccine trial?
Every study is different, and studies can last anywhere from 12-48 months. If you are interested in participating in a preventative vaccine trial, clinical staff will first ask you basic questions, usually over the phone, to see if you qualify. If you qualify, you will come into the clinic where staff will explain the study in detail, and conduct a brief physical exam and blood tests (including an HIV test). Once in the study, you will be asked questions about your health at each clinic visit, including any side effects you may have experienced and what medications you are taking. Usually blood will be drawn to detect the presence of immunity in your body produced by the vaccine.
7) What are some possible side effects of an experimental HIV vaccine?
Possible side effects of experimental vaccines could include fever, chills, rash, aches and pains, nausea, headache, dizziness and fatigue. Injections can cause pain, soreness, redness and swelling on the part of the body where you receive the injection. Generally, side effects do not last long and study volunteers usually do not require treatment.
8) Can you get HIV/AIDS from a vaccine study?
No, you cannot be infected by HIV from the vaccine itself.
9) Can you test HIV-positive as a result of receiving the vaccine?
If you receive an HIV vaccine, you could develop antibodies to the vaccine, causing your HIV test to turn positive even though you are not really infected with the virus. This is called a false positive, but it DOES NOT mean that you are infected with HIV, merely that your body has produced antibodies to the vaccine. A false positive test result does not happen to everyone who receives a vaccine candidate. In the case of a false positive, any clinic can conduct other tests that look for the actual virus itself, rather than for anitibodies to the virus, that would show that you are not actually infected.
10) How can I get involved in the search for an HIV vaccine?
Volunteers are needed in order to test vaccine candidates. If you are HIV-negative or HIV-positive, and are interested in volunteering for a vaccine study, please contact AIDS Research Alliance at 310/358-2429, or email us at info@aidsresearch.org. [LINK TO STUDY PAGE] AIDS Research Alliance has vaccine studies available for volunteers at both high-risk and low-risk of HIV infection. Vaccine volunteers who are already participating in an ARA vaccine study are available to talk about their experiences, both publicly and privately.
Back to Top
|
