Why we need a vaccine? The news about the AIDS

Why we need one, current efforts and challenges
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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 it1 .
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 all settings 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 20102 .
Furthermore, by the end of 2005, only
20% of those people who needed
antiretroviral therapy were receiving
them3 . The costs of providing antiretroviral
therapy is expected to rise, particularly
with the international commitment to
develop and implement a package for
HIV prevention, treatment and care with
the aim of coming as close as possible
to the goal of universal access to
treatment by 2010 for all those who
need it4 .
New and better long-term prevention
tools are needed, particularly for women
who lack the power to negotiate condom
use. Microbicides, applied to prevent or
reduce the risk of HIV infection during
sexual intercourse, could be an important
additional HIV prevention method for
women, increasing their control and
ability to protect themselves. An
effective preventive vaccine, however,
offers the best long-term solution to the
epidemic. Everyone, but in particular,
women would be able to use it with or
without their partner’s knowledge.
Vaccination of pre-adolescents before
their first sexual experience would be
an additional strategy to stop the AIDS
epidemic.