AIDS vaccine may raise infection risk-researchers

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - More than 3,000 people who volunteered to receive an experimental Merck and Co. <MRK.N> AIDS vaccine are being told to come back and get extra tests because the jab may itself raise the risk of infection.

Researchers stress that they do not yet have enough information to say whether those who got the shot indeed are more susceptible to infection with HIV. But they said initial information from the trial, which was stopped suddenly last month, is worrisome.

"At present, there is a tremendous amount of data being analyzed from the ... trial to see if there is, in fact, any greater risk of infection in those volunteers who received the vaccine," Dr. Mark Feinberg, vice president of medical affairs and public health for Merck, said in an e-mail letter.

Two studies were stopped in September after the independent board monitoring one of the trials noticed some troubling data.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25403302.htm

[truthisfreedom]

1. "Warren said he hoped the investigation would not frighten people away from taking part in AIDS

vaccine trials."

Seriously, dude, you have got to rethink your position on this.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. In all fairness they don't honestly know if there is a direct connection yet

Still those who took part in this study should be extra cautious.

[MADem]

3. Hmm, maybe their vaccine acts like a doorman? Come on in!! NT

[piedmont]

4. a difference of only 3 cases out of over 700 in each treatment group isn't significant.

"Specifically, 24 cases of HIV infection were seen among the 741 volunteers who received at least one dose of the investigational vaccine, while 21 cases of HIV infection were seen in the 762 participants who received at least one dose of the placebo," the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which was co-sponsoring the trial with Merck, said in a statement.

rate in the vaccine group: 3.2%
rate in the control group: 2.7%

A difference that small out of a sample size that large isn't significant. It sucks that the vaccine didn't work, but I don't see what the panic is about.