Comments on: HIV Vaccine May Be on the Horizon http://feministsforchoice.com/hiv-vaccine-may-be-on-the-horizon.htm Pro-choice and Proud! Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:47:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lyndsey http://feministsforchoice.com/hiv-vaccine-may-be-on-the-horizon.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1614 Lyndsey Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:51:49 +0000 http://feministsforchoice.com/?p=2556#comment-1614 One other thing to consider in terms of your questions--There have been HIV Vaccine trials of various stripes for over 20 years, most, if not all, have included safer sex counseling and handing out of free condoms to study participants. Still, with that being the case, this is the first study to have a scientifically significant result of reduced infections. Your questions are good, and so are the others that I have encountered. Asking questions also helps keep the conversation going. Like Michelle said, this study isn't the vaccine, but is another step to getting us closer to a vaccine and/or a cure. It teaches us more about the virus and the human body. And even when the vaccine is discovered, it will still only be PART of a whole host of HIV treatments and preventions. One other thing to consider in terms of your questions–There have been HIV Vaccine trials of various stripes for over 20 years, most, if not all, have included safer sex counseling and handing out of free condoms to study participants. Still, with that being the case, this is the first study to have a scientifically significant result of reduced infections.

Your questions are good, and so are the others that I have encountered. Asking questions also helps keep the conversation going. Like Michelle said, this study isn’t the vaccine, but is another step to getting us closer to a vaccine and/or a cure. It teaches us more about the virus and the human body. And even when the vaccine is discovered, it will still only be PART of a whole host of HIV treatments and preventions.

]]> By: Michele http://feministsforchoice.com/hiv-vaccine-may-be-on-the-horizon.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1604 Michele Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:57:09 +0000 http://feministsforchoice.com/?p=2556#comment-1604 The study was conducted, in part, by the same folks who conducted the Phase 3 AIDSVAX studies in the early 2000s (former VaxGen employees working at GSID). The subjects in these early studies were at high risk (IV drug users, gay men, sex workers) for contracting HIV. Sadly, the Phase 3 studies did not show any significant protection offered by the AIDSVAX vaccine alone. One significant outcome from the failed Phase 3 studies was that it taught us how to conduct these studies, which are really quite difficult to carry out. Presumably the latest studies were well thought out and the right mix of subjects were included. The latest studies probably won't directly result in a vaccine against HIV, but, like the failed Phase 3 studies, will hopefully lead us down the right path towards a vaccine, and maybe even a cure. I don't think you are raining on any parades- the media tend to hype this stuff up, and we, the readers, have a responsibility to suss out the truth from the hype. The study was conducted, in part, by the same folks who conducted the Phase 3 AIDSVAX studies in the early 2000s (former VaxGen employees working at GSID). The subjects in these early studies were at high risk (IV drug users, gay men, sex workers) for contracting HIV. Sadly, the Phase 3 studies did not show any significant protection offered by the AIDSVAX vaccine alone. One significant outcome from the failed Phase 3 studies was that it taught us how to conduct these studies, which are really quite difficult to carry out. Presumably the latest studies were well thought out and the right mix of subjects were included.

The latest studies probably won’t directly result in a vaccine against HIV, but, like the failed Phase 3 studies, will hopefully lead us down the right path towards a vaccine, and maybe even a cure. I don’t think you are raining on any parades- the media tend to hype this stuff up, and we, the readers, have a responsibility to suss out the truth from the hype.

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