HIV Vaccine Myths & Facts

MYTH: HIV vaccines can give people HIV.
FACT: This statement is false. A person CANNOT get HIV from the study HIV vaccines. These study vaccines do not contain real HIV. Some vaccines, like those for typhoid or polio, may use a weak form of the virus. But HIV vaccines do not do this. Scientists make HIV vaccines so that they look like the real virus, but they do not contain any HIV. Think of it like a photocopy: it might look similar, but it isn’t the original. In the last 25 years, over 30,000 volunteers have joined HIV vaccine studies around the world. None of them got infected with HIV from the vaccines tested. This is because the vaccines do not contain the HIV virus.

MYTH: An HIV vaccine already exists.
FACT: This is also false. There is no licensed vaccine for HIV or AIDS. But, scientists are closer than ever to creating an effective HIV vaccine. In 2009, researchers conducted a large vaccine study named RV144 in Thailand. It showed that a vaccine combination could stop about 32 percent of new infections. The HVTN is leading the effort to build on these results.

MYTH: Joining an HIV vaccine study is like being a guinea pig.
FACT: Unlike guinea pigs, people can say yes or no about joining a study. All study volunteers must complete informed consent. This process ensures they understand the risks and benefits of participation. Volunteers can also leave the study at any time without losing their rights or benefits. We take great care in making sure people fully understand the study before joining. All our studies follow U.S. federal research regulations. They also meet international ethical standards.

MYTH: Western scientists are unfairly using people in developing countries to test HIV vaccines.
FACT: In order to find a vaccine that works in all kinds of people, it is necessary to test them in all kinds of people. This is especially true for those hit hardest by the HIV epidemic. They may benefit the most from a vaccine, like people living in sub-Saharan Africa, for example. The top priority in every study is protecting the well-being of volunteers. We, along with our partners, ensure studies meet high ethical standards. We collaborate with local scientists and researchers, and consult local communities. Many studies are done in the US, Europe, and developing countries at the same time. We follow the same procedures and global standards no matter where the study takes place.

MYTH: A person must be HIV-positive (infected) to be in an HIV vaccine study.
FACT: This is false. We are testing preventive vaccines. We must test volunteers who are not infected with HIV, because our goal is to keep people that way. Other research groups are studying therapeutic vaccines for people already infected with HIV.

MYTH: Researchers want study participants to practice unsafe behaviors so they can see whether the vaccine really works.
FACT: This is absolutely false! The safety of study participants is the main concern for HIV vaccine researchers and staff. Counselors assist study participants in making a personal plan to reduce their HIV exposure. Participants receive supplies such as condoms and lubricant. We also provide information about HIV prevention tools. These include PrEP and medical male circumcision. HIV efficacy trials involve thousands of participants and last for several years. Despite the best efforts to reduce exposure, some participants may still get infected. Changing human behavior is tough. If it were easy, we wouldn’t struggle with obesity or lung disease from smoking. A preventive HIV vaccine is crucial because it depends less on individual behavior.

MYTH: Since PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) can prevent HIV, we don’t need an HIV vaccine anymore.
FACT: HIV-negative people can take PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) to prevent HIV. There are two pills approved for use as oral PrEP for HIV prevention. Descovy® and Truvada® are both daily pills. Truvada® taken as “on-demand” PrEP around the time of sex has also been shown to be effective but is not FDA approved. Apretude® is the only injectable PrEP available. It’s given every 2 months after 2 initial shots, one month apart. PrEP might not work for everyone. Some people can’t get access to it. Others may have health reasons that prevent them from taking the pill. Also, some may not want to take it. PrEP is an important new addition to the existing methods of HIV prevention. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t also need a vaccine. Vaccines are the only way we have completely eliminated an infectious disease (smallpox). Vaccines are an effective, affordable and practical option. Until we have an effective HIV vaccine, we support the use of all available HIV prevention tools and encourages people to learn about their prevention options.

MYTH: An HIV vaccine isn’t needed because AIDS can be treated and controlled, like diabetes.
FACT: Treatment for HIV and AIDS has greatly improved in the last 30 years. But it can’t replace prevention. Current HIV medications are very expensive, and there are also many side effects. Sometimes, people become resistant to drugs and may need to change their pill regimen. Access to these drugs is not guaranteed. Some countries do not have access to the same medicines that are available in the U.S. and Europe. And, the rate of new infections worldwide is higher than our ability to provide treatment.

MYTH: The search for an HIV vaccine has been going on for a long time and it just isn’t possible to find one that works.
FACT: Developing an HIV vaccine has proven to be difficult. But scientific understanding continues to improve all the time. Recent years have brought promising results from the RV144 study in Thailand. There’s also exciting work being done with broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. HIV is a powerful opponent, but scientists are constantly learning from one another and using advanced technology to fight it. Science has come a long way in the 30 years since AIDS was discovered. Preventive HIV vaccine research has taken a long time, but it’s not unusual. For example, the polio vaccine took 47 years to develop!

MYTH: Vaccines cause autism and just aren’t safe.
FACT: This is false. Many studies have found this claim to be false. The British doctor who claimed a vaccine-autism link was found to have faked his data. He was then stripped of his medical license. There is no link between childhood vaccination and autism. It is true that vaccines can have side effects. But those are typically temporary (like a sore arm, low fever, muscle aches and pains) and go away after a day or two. Vaccines are vital for protecting individuals and the community. They rank as one of history’s best public health measures, just after clean water.

MYTH: People who aren’t vulnerable to HIV infection don’t need an HIV vaccine.
FACT: A person may not be vulnerable to HIV today, but life can change and so can disease vulnerability. A preventive HIV vaccine can be important for your children, family, and friends, too. Knowing about preventive HIV vaccine research allows someone to help others. They can teach friends and family about why the research matters. They can also correct any myths about it. Anyone can help find a vaccine. Even if a person is not vulnerable to HIV today, they can be part of the effort to find a vaccine. An HIV vaccine could save millions of lives worldwide.

Article created by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and updated by BridgeHIV. The HVTN is the largest global partnership funded by the public. It focuses on creating vaccines to prevent HIV/AIDS and fight the epidemic.