To commemorate World Immunisation Week, I have written a series featuring the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) and all their amazing work into vaccination research.
A vaccine would be a game-changer for the HIV epidemic. Around 36 million people globally are infected with the virus, which is around half a percent of the global population. DTHF has ongoing HIV vaccine trials; find out the latest here:
A long lasting HIV vaccine is a tough challenge; longevity is difficult to manufacture. However, there are other ways to protect HIV-negative people from new infections: DTHF is trialing an infusion of drugs inserted using a drip that aims to protect at-risk people from HIV for around three months at a time. Read about this creative research here:
In South Africa, around a third of HIV-related deaths are caused by tuberculosis (TB). Whilst there are TB prevention vaccinations available; the BCG, it is not as effective as it could be and is in need of an update. Find out about the nuances and challenges in researching this new vaccination: