Rob.Carr@f53.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Rob Carr) (02/08/91)
Most of the paper accounts of the HIV vaccine seem to ballyhoo it. In
Science News Vol 139, No. 3 p38-39 (Jan. 19, 1991 edition) they point out
that while no toxic effects were observed, the antibody response was weak.
Neutralizing antibodies were found to be scarse, and only begun to be pro-
duced after the 4th vaccination. Blood from 6 of the people who received
the shots showed "complement-mediated antibody-dependant enhancement." While
I'm not familiar with the effect (anyone out there familiar with this?) the
article says that these antibodies can make the virus more infectious than
normal. Wonderful.
Don't run out and get the vaccine yet. I think this one's a good example of
where premature release of a drug could be dangerous. For the sake of the
argument, what if the vaccine had been released to PWAs as a way of slowing
down the progress of the disease, but instead it accelerated the development
of HIV? I understand the arguments both ways, and they all have merit. I'd
just like to point out the situation is not as black and white as some would
have us believe re: compassionate use.
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