HIV vaccine: Scientists debunk top 10 myths

December 1 marks World AIDS Day and in honor of this, the HIV Vaccine Research Unit, located at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (USA), debunks the TOP 10 myths about HIV vaccine research.

Myth #1: HIV vaccines can infect people with HIV. HIV vaccines do not contain HIV, so a person cannot become immunocompromised from the vaccine. Some vaccines, such as those against typhoid or polio, may contain weak forms of the virus, but this is not the case with HIV vaccines. Scientists design the vaccine to resemble the real virus, but they do not contain active HIV components.

Over the past 25 years, more than 30,000 volunteers have taken part in HIV vaccine studies worldwide, and none have become infected with HIV.

Myth #2: There is already a vaccine for HIV. There is currently no licensed vaccine against HIV/AIDS, but scientists are getting closer than ever to developing an effective HIV vaccine. In 2009, a large-scale study of the RV144 vaccine in Thailand showed that the vaccine could prevent about 32% of new infections. Scientists are now working to improve it.

Scientists around the world are constantly conducting new research to create an effective vaccine against HIV. The leading body in this field is the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN).

Myth #3: HIV vaccine clinical trial participants are like guinea pigs. Unlike guinea pigs, people can choose to participate in the study or not. All volunteers must go through a process called informed consent, which ensures that they understand the risks and benefits of the clinical trial. Volunteers should remember that they can stop participating in the study at any time without losing their rights or benefits. All HIV Vaccine Trials research complies with U.S. and federal research laws and the international standards of the countries where the research takes place.

Myth #4: A person must be HIV-positive to participate in an HIV vaccine study. This is not true. Although some research groups are conducting experiments in HIV-positive people, the vaccines being studied in the HVTN are preventive and must be tested in volunteers who are not infected with HIV.

Myth #5: Vaccine researchers want study participants to practice unsafe sex so they can be sure the vaccine really works. Not true. The safety of study participants is the No. 1 priority in HIV vaccine studies. Trained counselors work with participants on an ongoing basis to help them develop a personalized plan to prevent HIV infection. Volunteers also receive condoms and lubricants, as well as instructions on how to use them properly.

Myth #6: Now that there is antiretroviral therapy that can prevent HIV infection, there is no longer a need for an HIV vaccine. HIV-negative people who are at high risk can take antiretroviral drugs daily to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV, called HIV emergency prophylaxis (PrEP), which has been shown to be effective in high-risk populations in reducing the risk of spreading the disease. However, it is not yet recommended for widespread use. PrEP is unlikely to be available to everyone due to its high cost and many side effects. Adherence to therapy by taking the pills at a specific time each day is a significant challenge for some people. Therefore, the most effective way to prevent the disease is to develop an effective vaccine.

Myth #7: There is no need for an HIV vaccine because HIV and AIDS are now easily treated and controlled, just like diabetes. Although AIDS treatment has advanced over the past 30 years, it is no substitute for prevention. Current HIV medications are very expensive and have many side effects. Sometimes people develop drug resistance to HIV medications, forcing them to switch to newer drugs. Access to these drugs for uninsured people in the United States and developing countries is also very limited.

Myth #8: The search for an HIV vaccine has been going on for a long time, which suggests that an effective vaccine is impossible to create. The process of developing an HIV vaccine is complex, but the scientific understanding of the processes that occur during HIV infection continues to improve all the time. HIV is a powerful adversary, but scientists are constantly learning from each other, using advanced technologies to combat it. In the last 30 years, since HIV was discovered, science has made huge strides. This is not much, since it took 47 years to develop a vaccine against polio.

Myth #9: Vaccines can cause autism or are simply unsafe. This is not true. Numerous studies in recent decades have disproved these claims. A British doctor who published a paper linking vaccines and autism admitted to falsifying the research data. In fact, there is no link between vaccinations and autism. It is true that vaccines often have side effects, but these are usually temporary (e.g., pain at the injection site, fever, muscle aches) and disappear within a day or two. The value of protecting vaccinated individuals and the public has made vaccines one of the leading public health interventions in history, second only to clean drinking water.

Myth #10: People who are not at risk do not need the HIV vaccine. A person may not currently be at risk for HIV, but life situations can change that increase their risk. The vaccine may also be important for children or other family members and friends. By being knowledgeable about HIV vaccine research, a person can be part of the solution by educating friends and family about the importance of such research and by debunking the myths that surround HIV infection and AIDS. Even if a person is not at risk, he or she can be part of the effort to find an effective vaccine that will hopefully save the lives of millions of people around the world.