HIV VACCINE STUDIES IN UGANDA

For the first time in 2009 in Thailand, scientists were able to demonstrate that a vaccine against HIV and AIDS could work. The world was happy and the latest now is that it is going to be tested in Africa but in only South Africa and Mozambique. Now, the U.S military’s HIV Research Program in Uganda, Makerere University Walter Reed project is tasked to test newer generations of vaccines that could potentially work everywhere. For now, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are carrying out a phase one trial study to test two vaccines on 80 volunteers for a period of 18 months. The rate of HIV among 16000 volunteers in Thailand reduced by one third over a period of 3 and half years in the individuals that had received the vaccine. "One year after vaccination actually 60 per cent of the volunteers in that trial were protected," says Nelson Michael, Director, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. This success meant that there was a possibility to find suitable products that would work in Africa. Studies to redesign the vaccine to work on the African continent were begun and now the Thai vaccine will be tested in South Africa and Mozambique. "In Southern Africa, there’s only a single sub type of HIV, a single type that circulates, just like in Thailand. In Uganda there are many different types of HIV that circulate. So, it will be very difficult to take the vaccine that works in Thailand and make it work for East Africa or for that matter for West Africa," Colonel Nelson emphasises. This is an opportunity according to the Director of U.S Military HIV research Pro-gram, to look into newer vaccines that can potentially work everywhere. "How long, how far are we, I say probably we are 67 years off to be able to be in a position to have done the initial efficacy testing. When that testing is done, Uganda will definitely be part of those studies," he adds. Uganda has for long been part of the prevention activities not just with vaccines but drugs and with microbicides. According to the Colonel,Uganda will continue to help lead Africa into an AIDS free future. At the moment a new study has started which is a few weeks old in the country as well as in Kenya and Tanzania to last 18 months with 80 volunteers most of whom have now been vaccinated. "Simple study that you ask first as to whether or not the vaccine will show any promise in terms of blood test that you would measure, so we are still not really close to testing a vaccine for efficacy in Uganda but I think we gonna be there probably in about 4years," he says this with conviction. Already the crew in the Walter reed Laboratory in Uganda are working tirelessly to see to it that maybe in the near future, Uganda could contribute to finding a vaccine against HIV. "Epidemics or viruses have never been able to be beaten until you have a vac-cine. This is true with small pox, it’s true with measles. There are a number of viral diseases that we’ve already either beaten or beaten down with vaccines. As much as you can try with drugs and condoms and other prevention activities, ultimately it’s gonna take a vaccine to beat this infectious disease," affirms the Colonel. For now, hopes to have Uganda an AIDS free country are still grim until a vaccine is found. ENDS