Why isn’t there a HIV vaccine available?
I know like influenza there are mutations that occur in the virus’ DNA so a vaccine would only be helpful for one strand of the virus but there is still an anual flu vaccine…
5 Responses
scottsdalehigh64
26 Jan 2010
The Mighty Boosh
26 Jan 2010
Simple. Because no one has any idea on how to combat the HIV virus.
shevek1248
26 Jan 2010
Two problems:
1) HIV has shown itself to be a much more quickly adaptable virus than the flu, and if you have it you typically have multiple strains.
2) Vaccines work by teaching your immune system what to attack. HIV cripples your immune system, so a vaccine wouldn’t really help.
kumorifox
26 Jan 2010
So far, not enough information has been gathered on the HIV virus to create an actual vaccine. It is easier to produce a flu vaccine because flu viruses are easier to study.
longhornsfan12
26 Jan 2010
It works with reverse transcriptase. And no one really cares about gay people, black africans, and incest survivors. Unfortunately. Thanks Obama.
There have been numerous attempts at creating a vaccine, but none of them has worked in clinical trials. Part of the problem is that the HIV can remain dormant within the T lymphocytes of the immune system itself. In that state, they are not exposed to antibodies produced by the B lymphocytes which are stimulated by a vaccine. That is, there is always a reservoir of the HIV that cannot be attacked by the immune system.