South African Vaccine Volunteers Receive HIV Warning
Hundreds of AIDS vaccine volunteers in South Africa are being warned that an experimental vaccine they received may make them more likely to contract HIV, as opposed to helping to prevent infection (Washingtonpost.com, 10/24).
Researchers began contacting the 801 vaccine trial participants on Tuesday, telling them that the vaccine might have actually increased their risk of contracting HIV. While the vaccine can’t cause infection, it could have created changes in the immune system that would make later infection easier, say researchers.
"This is my worst nightmare," said the lead South African researcher, Glenda Gray. "I haven't slept for days. I have a headache. I'm ready to resign from trials for the rest of my life."
The decision to contact the participants comes after Merck & Co. was forced to halt a trial for its promising AIDS vaccine last month after it was determined that the vaccine didn’t protect study participants from HIV infection.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
