There is currently no vaccine available to prevent HIV infection and scientists are working to develop a vaccine to prevent infection by the HIV virus.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Testing for the efficacy of a HIV PrEP vaccine has started in four sites in east and southern Africa.
The trials are taking place in Masaka, Uganda, Dar es Salam and Mbeya in Tanzania and in Durban, South Africa.
According to the research team, 1,512 have been enrolled for the testing, out of the total 2,215 potential participants that were screened for enrolment.
Of the participants, 1,504 have started vaccinations, 623 were still receiving vaccines, and 671 had completed their fourth vaccination (of four scheduled).
“Participants are healthy adults aged 18-40 years who have voluntarily given full informed consent to take part in the PrEPVacc study, which has been approved by their site’s Research Ethics Committee,” said the team in a news release dated June 9.
Enrollment began in December 2020 and concluded in March 2023, due to disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
There is currently no vaccine available to prevent HIV infection and scientists are working to develop a vaccine to prevent infection by the HIV virus.
Development of a safe, effective, preventive HIV vaccine remains key to realising a durable end to the HIV/Aids pandemic.
Led by African researchers, PrEPVacc is the first HIV vaccine efficacy trial to be conducted in East Africa and only HIV vaccine efficacy trial being conducted in the world at present.