San Francisco Chronicle - Sunday, May 18, 2003
Jennifer Sarche*

But HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is also an opportunity for San Francisco to honor the approximately 250 volunteers who have participated in preventive HIV vaccine clinical trials. Their commitment is supported by dozens of individuals who serve on community advisory boards along with dedicated researchers and scientists.

The search for a safe and effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection began when the virus was first identified in 1984, and each new test or clinical trial brings us closer to finding an effective vaccine. At present, more than 20 promising HIV vaccines are in various stages of testing. This summer, three new vaccine trials are beginning in San Francisco.

This past year has been unique in the history of HIV vaccine development. In February, VaxGen released the results from the first large-scale vaccine trial. Overall, VaxGen's vaccine was not effective, and the truth behind its claims of efficacy among communities of color and women will remain unknown until further study is completed.

The announcement, however, caused an enormous amount of confusion. In our subsequent conversations with community groups and individual community members, we heard reactions that varied from joy at the possibility of a vaccine for African Americans, who have been hit hard by the epidemic, to beliefs that the vaccine was deemed a failure because it only worked for people of color, to outright anger at the confusing and inconsistent messages.

We responded by conducting outreach to our participants and community-based organizations with our best interpretation of the results and what they mean. At the Research Section, we are encouraged by the debate the VaxGen results sparked. Community interest was clearly kindled, and we have engaged with organizations and individuals about the challenges and opportunities inherent in developing a safe and effective HIV vaccine:

-- We are committed to nurturing the dialogue that has begun with communities of color about getting involved from inception to completion of future trials.

-- We are committed to adhering to our mission of conducting meaningful, ethical and respectful research with the collaboration of San Francisco's diverse communities.

-- We are committed to disseminating the results of this research to help inform ongoing prevention messages.

And what can you do? As parents, educators, clinicians, clergy, advocates and individuals who care about the future, you must join us in continuing to promote HIV prevention. Absent an effective vaccine, prevention remains the best way to fight AIDS.

Learn more

The HIV Research Section of the San Francisco Department of Public Health invites inquiries from people interested in the vaccine research being conducted in our community. For more information, visit its Web site at www.sfaidsresearch.org.

* Jennifer Sarche is a community educator in the HIV Research Section of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

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