HEALTH
HEALTH
By amplifying the vaccine, researchers are now hoping for 50 % to 60 % efficacy in the South African trial.
Fauci says that even a moderately effective vaccine would be a“ major advance.”
The vaccine study aims to enroll 5,400 men and women, the largest ever in South Africa. Tshongoyi approaches two young women who need very little convincing before exchanging details.
“ The problem is, they can’ t negotiate when it comes to sex,” she said.“ They want to protect themselves, but with a condom, they can’ t. If their boyfriend doesn’ t want to use one, that is it.”
Azola Dayeni wants to become a nurse. She hopes the PrEP study will keep her safe.
Sive Zandi, with Linda-Gail Bekker, says an HIV vaccine would be“ wonderful. We could live life easy.”
‘ The last chapters of HIV’
Bekker’ s Emavundleni Research Centre was built for this moment; it sits in the heart of a township that has felt the full brunt of the epidemic.
For years, the facility has carried out trial after trial, though never one like HVTN 702.
“ We have written half the book,” Bekker said.“ This is not the time to put the book down and walk away. We can collectively write the last chapters of HIV.”
But the South African government recently redirected a portion of its research budget, and there are fears that outside funding from the United States and other donors could also dry up.
If HVTN 702 doesn’ t succeed, researchers know, the next trial would be years away.
It’ s early afternoon, and the center is still full of mainly young women, desperate to gain control.
Inside one of the examination rooms, Azola Dayeni reads about the pre-exposure prophylaxis( or PrEP) study she has enrolled in.
“ I have a partner, but I don’ t trust him,” she explained. She hopes the PrEP will keep her safe-- but, she said,“ a vaccine is the ultimate protection.” An HIV-free generation? No matter how good treatment becomes, the impact of HIV on
Titila Mputa’ s family is permanent.“ I just went out to school, and when I left,( my mother) was fine,” Mputa recalled.“ When I came back, she was not there, and they told me that she was in hospital, that she had a stroke.”
Four successive strokes, complications of the virus, crippled her mother. The treatment saved her mother’ s life, but Mputa doesn’ t want any other families to suffer like they did.
26 LIFE TODAY MAGAZINE Issue 1, No. 001 / 17 / December 2016