Nearly 40 years after HIV was discovered, scientists are cautiously optimistic they are on the brink of a vaccine effective enough to roll out on a wide scale. Results from advanced vaccine trials are expected in the coming years.
But even if an effective vaccine is found — is the world ready to roll it out?
That’s the question some researchers and advocates are asking, warning that the global health community needs to lay the groundwork in expectation of good results, in order to avoid delays of a vaccine rollout and consequently increased infections that could have been prevented with a vaccine.
A successful, timely rollout of the vaccine will require discussions and collaboration among the global health community and potential manufacturers of the vaccine, as well as increased resources — starting now, researchers said this month at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa in Rwanda.