HIV vaccines?

Pakbabydoll

IF a vaccine is an inactive form of the virus then in theory can't they make a HIV vaccine from dead HIV virus? the virus dies 90 secs after touching open air... So it can't infect any one else.... Since it attacks the T cells, is not there a way to get the white blood cells out of the red blood cells..

Just curios

BoomBoom

They certainly have been putting much effort and $$ into it for quite some time.
I think one problem with nailing down HIV may be the fact that it has a very high rate of mutation. Or perhaps that it attacks the very system that is supposed to recognoze it?

Moonbear

This is the primary challenge. It's similar to the reason the flu vaccine is only partially effective, or ineffective some years...too many mutations and variants of the virus to predict which one any particular person will be infected with in time to immunize them. But, while getting a flu shot and winding up contracting flu anyway isn't really terrible except for a very small percentage of the population, getting an HIV vaccination and winding up with HIV infection anyway is an unacceptably dangerous risk.

Pakbabydoll

yea but same applies to any other bacterial and viral disease or most of them anyway, but if they had a vaccine made then it could lower the chances even if by 45%

paralith

(HIV is a virus, not a bacteria - though I assume you just had a slip up since you seem aware of this fact in your OP ^_^)
Some vaccines can in themselves be dangerous. Some people may have an allergic or some other type of fatal reaction to them - that's why you usually get a long info sheet about each vaccine before you take it, so you're aware of the risks. These risks also mean you really shouldn't take the vaccine unless you don't have any other choice, and safe sex choices can help a lot in preventing the spread of HIV, and are a lot safer and have a lot more additional benefits.

Pakbabydoll

However, todays people are not aware of it specially in schools they teach NO SEX rather then teaching safe sex habits. I don't think this is working any way because look at the rate it keeps going up and up specially in 3rd world countries

paralith

Many people in third world countries hold mistaken beliefs about the nature of HIV and many other sexually transmitted diseases. Some people in Africa believe that you can cure yourself of AIDS by having sex with a virgin. The Masai in Kenya believed that Masai simply don't get AIDS. Education is essential; and unfortunately, many of the charitable groups working in third world countries are christian based, and again teach abstinence instead of safe sex. It's definitely a difficult issue. But like I said, safe sex is a safer (ha), more reliable, and MUCH cheaper way to deal with slowing the spread of HIV.