HIV Vaccine to be trialled in South Africa

A vaccine against HIV will be trialled in
South Africa later this year after it met the
criteria needed to prove it could help fight
the epidemic in Africa.
2.1 million infections were reported in the
continent in 2015, two thirds of which
occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.
A small trial, known as HVTN100, initially
took place in South Africa in 2015 to test
the safety and strength of immunity the
vaccine could provide, ahead of any large-
scale testing in affected populations.
Two-hundred and fifty-two healthy
volunteers were enrolled to receive either
the vaccine, known as ALVAC-HIV/gp120,
or a placebo to compare the extent of
immune response generated. The results
were presented Tuesday at the 21st
International AIDS Conference in Durban,
South Africa.
“This was precautionary to see if the
vaccine looks promising,” CNN reports
Linda Gail Bekker, deputy director of the
Desmond Tutu HIV Centre in Cape Town,
South Africa, and president-elect of the
International AIDS Society, who is leading
the vaccine trials, as saying.
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.
The vaccine was improved for use in the
higher-risk populations of sub-Saharan
Africa, where a different subtype of the
virus also exists.
5,400 people across four sites in South
Africa will receive the vaccine in November
and run for three years.

Source: CCTV Africa