The big story in my hometown newspaper (Kirksville Daily Express) reports 50 persons were willing to be injected with a live AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease Syndrome) virus vaccine. ABCNews also reports the same story on-line. Fifty physicians from the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care said they could wait no longer and were tired of researchers arguing about safety concerns over injecting a live HIV (Human immunodeficeincy virus, the virus that causes AIDS) vaccine into humans. They said they would be willing to be injected but it would probably be two years from now to ensure the vaccine was safe.
If they are going to wait two years why tell us now? Being noble is a good thing, but using your influence to get things going faster is irresponsible. Knowing these 50 people are physicians, other people may be thinking all this talk about vaccine safety concerns is silly and want to be immunized right away.
Why are researchers being so slow about using this vaccine? THE AIDS VIRUS KILLS PEOPLE AND HAS KILLED NEARLY 100% OF THE PEOPLE IT HAS INFECTED.
The current AIDS live virus vaccine is made up of an AIDS virus that is able to infect humans but is unable to reproduce once it is in human cells. The AIDS virus' genetic material was changed (mutated) so that it would be unable to reproduce. Unfortunately, this virus is also known to mutate very rapidly in the human body. What will prevent the reversal of this mutation?
I understand that 8,000 people per day are infected with the AIDS virus. I realise that the current treatments for AIDS (Human Health Services reccommendations) are very expensive ($1,000-2,000 U.S. per month) and that only 6% of the patients in the world can afford treatment. I know that the treatments are not cures and only delay the eventual death of AIDS patients. I know that a vaccine, if safe, is really the best solution to eliminate this worldwide epidemic. HOWEVER, 50 more people getting AIDS will not solve the problem. It will only tell us, once again, what does not work.
If these 50 physicians are wrong and the vaccine does cause AIDS, who will then pay for their treatment? Do we need to add to the burden? NO.
Only three years ago I thought that a useful treatment was impossible. Now we have good, although expensive, treatments for AIDS. These drugs reduce virus numbers in AIDS patients and prolong their lives. If we take our time and do it right, a safe and effective vaccine may be available.
Would you like some good information on AIDS? Try Immunet, or the University of California,
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