Title: A HIV vaccine: Why we need one, current efforts and challenges.

POPLINE Document Number: 314851

Author(s):

Taylor K
Doupe A

Source citation:

Contact, 2006 Aug;(182):25-27.

Abstract:

Why we need a vaccine? The news about the AIDS epidemic is bleak and relentless. Since the start of the epidemic, an estimated 65 million people have been infected with HIV, of whom some 25 million have died. In 2005 alone almost 3 million people lost their lives to AIDS, children accounted for one in every six of these AIDS-related deaths. In the same year, there were over four million new HIV infections worldwide, almost three million of these in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite progress made in a small but growing number of countries, the AIDS epidemic continues to outstrip global efforts to contain it. H IV prevention interventions are essential to make an impact on the pandemic. Where HIV prevalence is high--either in a geographic area (for example sub-Saharan Africa) or concentrated in particular populations (such as drug users in the Russian Federation)--maximum coverage is needed in order to slow the epidemic. It is also important to achieve optimal coverage of HIV prevention programmes in allsettings in order to have an impact. It is estimated that the implementation of a comprehensive HIV prevention package could avert 29 million (or 63%) of the 45 million new infections expected to occur between 2002 and 2010. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Developing Countries
Progress Report
Evaluation
Policymakers
HIV Prevention
Vaccines
Research and Development
Administrative Personnel
Organization and Administration
HIV Infections
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Medical Procedures
Medicine
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Technology
Economic Factors