What I learnt Today : South Africa is participating in largest and most advanced HIV vaccine trial program; makes its own history

What I learnt Today : South Africa is participating in largest & most advanced HIV vaccine trial program; makes its own history

A big step for mankind - South Africa is participating in HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) vaccine program. This vaccine could prevent HIV infection. The drug trial began last month. This program is called HVTN 702. About 5400 adults are participating in this HIV vaccine trial. Scientists say that this HIV vaccine program is the largest and most advanced trial program in South Africa.

“If deployed alongside our current armoury of proven HIV prevention tools, a safe and effective vaccine could be the final nail in the coffin for HIV,” said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which falls under the American National Institutes of Health (NIH), a co-funder of the trial.

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“Even a moderately effective vaccine would significantly decrease the burden of HIV disease over time in countries and populations with high rates of HIV infection, such as South Africa.”

Dr Glenda Gray is the protocol chairman of HVTN 702 and the founding director of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. He is also the president of the South African Medical Research Council. He stated that –

“The people of South Africa are making history by conducting and participating in the first HIV vaccine efficacy study to build on the results of the Thai trial.”

“HIV has taken a devastating toll in South Africa, but now we begin a scientific exploration that could hold great promise for our country. If an HIV vaccine were found to work in South Africa, it could dramatically alter the course of the pandemic.”

The NIH (National Institutes of Health) state following :

“The safety of HVTN 702 study participants will be closely monitored throughout the trial, and participants will be offered the standard of care for preventing HIV infection,”

“Study participants who become infected with HIV in the community will be referred to local medical providers for care and treatment and will be counselled on how to reduce their risk of transmitting the virus.”

Source: NIH and SouthAfrica.info reporter

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Tags : Health, Medical, News, Science, Life, 

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