FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Right now, we have more tools than ever to stop the spread of HIV. Behavioral prevention works -- for example, using condoms or limiting the number of sex partners. But behavior change can be difficult, and some people are unaware of their risk.

We also have treatments to make the lives of those who are infected longer and healthier. But treatment does not cure HIV, and many people who are infected don't know it.

Clearly, these tools by themselves are not enough to stop the epidemic. It's estimated that globally, 11,000 people become infected every day. In SF alone, we see 10-15 new infections every week.

If we found an HIV vaccine that works to prevent new infections, millions of lives could be saved. Finding a vaccine is one of our best hopes for fighting the AIDS epidemic worldwide.

HIV vaccines teach the body's own immune system to recognize and fight off HIV. It's important to know that no live, dead, or weakened HIV is used in the making of the vaccines, so it's impossible become infected from them.

The hope is that the vaccines will mimic HIV just enough to train the body how to fight it off if a person is ever exposed to the real thing.

Vaccines have been the critical tool for stopping global epidemics like polio and smallpox. The hope for our preventive HIV vaccines is to:

• Keep HIV negative people from becoming infected, or
• Lower the level of HIV in the blood should someone eventually become infected,
• And help us beat this epidemic.

Therapeutic vaccines for people who are already HIV positive are also in trials. These vaccines could slow disease progression or possibly prevent transmission to another person.

You cannot be infected with HIV from a test HIV vaccine.

The vaccines we are testing do not contain any whole, live, killed or weakened HIV. Instead, these vaccines use man-made imitations of pieces of the virus.

Think of it like plastic flowers -- they're man-made imitations too. And could never cause seasonal allergies.

Since there's no real HIV in the vaccines, it's impossible to get infected.

Hopefully, the fake parts look enough like the actual virus to activate the immune system, but they are not the real thing and they can never cause HIV infection.

Unfortunately, the answer is no. An effective vaccine would prevent new infections but only for people who get vaccinated. The right vaccine could also slow down disease progression in people already infected with HIV.

A vaccine is not a cure. And it will not single-handedly end the AIDS crisis. People living with HIV will need treatment improvements, as well as programs that provide direct care. Ongoing, coordinated HIV prevention efforts will also be needed to end the HIV epidemic for good.

No, not at all. Effective, safe vaccines take time to develop. It took 22 years to find the vaccine for Hepatitis A. 30 years for the Measles.

We are approaching the 20-year mark of testing HIV vaccines. It may seem like a long time but the Polio vaccine took 47 years. Every study that we conduct teaches us more about how to conduct successful studies and how to design better vaccines.

In the beginning, vaccines are tested extensively in laboratories and animals. Only if they look very safe and promising are they ever tested in people. In people, vaccines are tested in placebo-controlled, double blind studies.

"Placebo-controlled" means that volunteers may receive either the vaccine or a placebo, like a dummy shot. "Double blind" means that neither the researchers nor the participants will know who received which until after the study is over. At the end of the study, investigators look for differences between the vaccine and placebo groups.

The studies are conducted in three phases:

• Phase I includes a very small group (dozens) of healthy, HIV-negative people to test for vaccine safety and whether the vaccine creates the immune response it was designed to make. These trials last 12-18 months.
• Phase II includes a larger group (hundreds) of healthy, HIV-negative people to test for: (a) safety and (b) the best dose and schedule (timing) of giving the vaccine. Trials last up to two years.
• Phase III includes thousands of participants. Healthy, HIV-negative adults who are at risk for acquiring HIV participate in Phase III, where we are still looking at safety and now testing to see whether the vaccine protects against HIV infection. All participants are given HIV risk reduction counseling at every visit. Only two Phase III studies have been completed to date, neither vaccine was effective against HIV (for more information, visit the VaxGen page).

Every participant goes through a rigorous informed consent process with one of our staff members where they learn about all of the risks and benefits of study participation. These informed consent processes are thoroughly reviewed by our Institutional Review Board and our Community Advisory Board for accuracy, thoroughness and clarity.

Just about anyone who is healthy and HIV negative can participate. To be considered, you must be between the ages of 18 and 50.

No - the Trials are open to people who live outside of San Francisco. As long as you can come to the City for scheduled visits, you're welcome to participate. You would receive $50 per visit, which could cover transportation expenses if you're outside of the City.

Currently, there are several different vaccines trials happening in San Francisco. Each Trial has been designed differently. Most last between 12 and 18 months.

There's something everyone can do to help find a vaccine:

• Volunteer to participate in a study.
• Be a part of our Community Advisory Board.
• Host a vaccine dinner party - we'll treat you and up to ten friends to dinner, and come to your home to conduct a fun, interactive workshop about HIV vaccines. Call Jen at (415) 554-4297 for more information.

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