The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7183 p123-130
2 February 2002

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HIV vaccine within reach but politics will decide

An effective, affordable and accessible HIV vaccine is within reach but whether or not it is ever developed is dependent on politics. This is the view of researchers from the Medical Research Council of South Africa.

Writing in the BMJ, they say that the best strategy for the development of an HIV vaccine would be equitable partnerships between the public and private sectors, and between rich and poor countries. They also argue that the rules for access to and distribution of a vaccine, if it were to be developed, should be determined before making it widely available.

They conclude: "If we fail to provide the world with an effective HIV vaccine, future generations will judge us harshly, because this failure will be due not to lack of ability or resources but to politics," (2002;324:211).

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