How realistic is an HIV/AIDS vaccine?

Given the lack of integrity shown in early HIV research, I’m more than a bit skeptical of HIV/AIDS vaccine research. There has been a lot of talk recently about the possibilities of developing an HIV vaccine, and the information in this abstract isn’t new, but it is one of the better academic studies in this area. (I love it when researchers study other researchers.)

U.S., British HIV/AIDS Researchers Pessimistic About Prospects of Vaccine, Survey Finds

To determine the sentiments of researchers, the Independent surveyed more than 35 leading HIV/AIDS scientists in the U.S. and Britain. The survey found that two researchers responded that they are now more optimistic about the prospects for an HIV vaccine than they were last year, and four said that they were more optimistic now than they were five years ago. About two-thirds said that a vaccine will not be developed within the next decade, and some respondents said it would take at least 20 years to develop a vaccine. The survey also found a “substantial minority” said that an HIV vaccine might never be developed, according to the Independent. In addition, those who said that a vaccine might be developed in the next 10 years said that such a vaccine would be unlikely to work as a “truly effective prophylactic” against HIV infection. More than 80% of the survey respondents said that because of the failure of the Merck trial, it is important to change the direction of HIV vaccine research.

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