Scientists test efficacy of HIV vaccine

An HIV vaccine trial carried out in Thailand by US military researchers has proved "modestly effective" at reducing the rate of infection, according to a new report.

Results of the study, presented at the Aids Vaccine 2009 Conference in Paris this week, showed that the vaccine lowered the rate of HIV infection by more than 30 per cent.

In response, Annabel Kanabus, director of international charity AVERT, said: "At the moment there is a sort of tension between treatment, getting people with HIV the drugs that are needed and doing prevention.

"There is not enough money for enough of everything that you need ... This is a disease that can be prevented."

The findings were based on data taken from more than 16,000 adults and were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

According to AVERT, an estimated 77,400 people were living with HIV in the UK at the end of 2007. Last year, there were at least 7,370 new diagnoses of HIV made nationwide.

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