PROPHYLACTIC VACCINE TRIALS - WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT HIV

Testing the efficacy of preventive vaccines for HN raises issues which are not encountered when conducting other prophylactic vaccine trials. This paper urges the need to consider the social and behavioural 'side effects' when conducting vaccine trials such as the effect of the trial on preventive education and possible increases in risk-taking behaviour. It suggests that sensitive monitoring of trial participants' behaviour is essential for scientific and ethical reasons and questions the appropriateness of 'blinding' as part of the protocol for these trials. It discusses the ethical dilemmas which arise with 'blinding' these vaccine trials and argues that the important relationship in these vaccine trials is the relationship between the frequency of risk behaviours and HIV seroconversion.