New AIDS Vaccine

Xia Qing, aged 8, contracted HIV during a blood transfusion. Her family is hard pressed by high medical expenses.

China has developed a new AIDS vaccine, and human experimentation will be carried out in the latter half of this year. According to the head of this project, which is being carried out at the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, the cost of immunization will not exceed 100 yuan.

Development of the new AIDS vaccine started in 1996. Researchers first of all isolated the AIDS viral strain that is spreading through China, and conducted research on these viruses. Professor Shao Yiming, head of the research project, said that animal experimentation of this vaccine had been completed, and that human experimentation will begin in the latter half of this year, and carry on for a period of 12 to 18 months to scrutinize its security. Phase II and Phase III experimentation will follow, and controlled experiments will be conducted to compare those who have not been vaccinated with those that have, and observe the efficacy of the vaccine. It is estimated that this clinical experimentation will be complete in 2006. Professor Shao said that due to the complexity of the AIDS virus, the vaccine would be used jointly, like "cocktail" therapy, to bring its effectiveness into full play.

AIDS is currently a worldwide epidemic. Although medicines to control AIDS have been developed, the Third World countries that need them most cannot afford them.