Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer
Figueroa
THE FIRST HIV vaccine trial in Jamaica is scheduled to begin next month.
Dr. Peter Figueroa, chief, epidemiology and AIDS in the Ministry of Health, made the disclosure yesterday during a press conference at the Comprehensive Health Centre in Kingston.
Approximately 480 volunteers from around the world, including 24 people from Jamaica, are expected to participate in the study.
Dr. Figueroa said it was not possible for persons to contract HIV or develop AIDS from the experimental vaccine.
"I must stress that it is not possible to get HIV infection or develop AIDS from experi-mental vaccines because they are not made from live HIV, killed HIV (or) weakened HIV or infected cells," he stated.
Dr. Figueroa explained that the vaccine to be used in the trial has been tested on mice, rabbits and monkeys as well as on human beings.
"The investigational vaccine was (also) tested in more than 250 people in a phase 1 trial. Two similar vaccines have been tested in more than 450 persons. Over the past several months, this experimental vaccine has been given to 180 volunteers in the United States," Dr. Figueroa revealed.
He said everything was done to ensure the safety of participants in those trials which were conducted under rigorous international standards and monitored closely by different regulatory agencies including the Food and Drug Administration in the United States.
Dr. Figueroa said persons who are HIV-positive are not eligible to participate in the study.
"Only persons who are HIV-negative and meet other criteria, will be eligible to participate," he stated. "The HIV vaccine will not prevent persons from contracting HIV and everyone who participates in the study will be counselled and encouraged to practise safe sex and avoid being exposed to the virus."
PREPAREDNESS STUDY
He said Jamaica has been conducting an HIV vaccine preparedness study over the past eight months. One hundred Jamaicans, 75 women and 25 men, are enrolled in that study, which should be completed in September this year. He added, however, that no experimental vaccine has been given to those persons.
Jamaica has been part of the worldwide HIV Vaccine Trials Network since April 2003. There are 27 testing sites worldwide and only three other Caribbean countries, Haiti, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, are involved in the programme.
