A vaccine is a preparation that teaches the body to recognize and defend itself against bacterial and viruses that can cause disease. A vaccine for the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV the virus that causes AIDS), will protect uninfected people against HIV in avariety of ways e.g by stimulating the body's immune system of fight and kill HIV as soon as it enters the body

A vaccine is usually given to healthy people. it causes the body's defense system to produce a response, which enables it to fight and overcome the bacteria or virus when exposed to it at later date. it can prvent a bacteria or virus form producing any ovewhelming infection. A vaccine is not a cure. it only protects the individual from getting the disease he or she is vaccine against.

Currently, there are no effective HIV vaccines available. However, there are several possible vaccine that may work. Some are undergiong animal trails while some are alreasy undergoing clinical (human) trials. The development of a vaccine takes a while. This is as to ensure it is save and effective. An effective HIV vaccine will cause the body defense system to oercome the virus if it enters the body.

Vaccine development is a lengthy process of testing ideas and products. The concept are tested and improved many times before they are ready to be tested in humans. Initial tests are done on the product in the laboratory and in animals. If the candidate accine is promising(when extensive studies in animals show no significant side effects), a pkan is then developed for its test in humans. This plan is subbmitted to appropriate national regulatory bodies in order to futher ascetain its safety in humans.

No, they cannot. The candidate vaccines presently undergoing trials are artificially made and carry no risk of transmminting HIV. They do not cointain killed or weakened HIV, or any material from HIV-Infected individuals or form individuals found to be resistant to HIV. Neither do they contain blood or blood product.

Any effective vaccine developed would be made available first to populations with the highest HIV incidence, especially those who have contributed to vaccine development through partcipation in trials. Many organizations all over the world are currently developing strategies to ensure that caost does not become a barrier to access to an effective HIV vaccines, when developed.

it is important that Nigerian scientist, reseacher and advocates work in collaboration with international patners to develop a safe and affordable preventive HIV vaccine. This would enable the country develop and test HIV vaccine that are specifically designed to be used in West Africa and Nigeria in particular.

Clinical trials of a few candidate vacancies are to start in Nigeria in 2004 and 2005. Nigeria medical research institution will conduct come of the trials. the nigeria government is working through the national Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) Abuja and other instituitions to develop a home grown HIV vaccine. Already, the goverment has drawn up a HIV vaccine Developement Plan. 

The various stages of clinical (human) trials would involve several volunteers who wolud willingly participate in the testing of these candidate vaccines. You can plan to be a volunteer whan the trial starts. there are several thousands of volunteers for such trials all over the world with whic you can network.

However, before the trials start, you can lend your voice, energy and time to advocate the the Nigerian Government keep to its schedule for the development of a vaccine for Nigeria, as contained in the the national HIV Vaccine Development  Plan. Government must also implement aggreements and commiteement it has made with patners at regional and international level towards ensuring speedy development of a HIV vaccine. it is in the intrest of every  Nigerian thet the Goverment implements the National HIV Development Olan scrupulously and on time. You can contact NVHMAS for more informationon how you can join in the global advocacy for the development of a safe and effective vaccine for HIV

NHVMAS (pronounced a 'navmas') is an acronym for the New HIV Vacccine and Microbicides Advocacy Society. It is a civil society group commited to mobilizing popular participation and public support for vaccine and microbicide research and the development in nigeria. Its miccion is to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria by ensuring the availabilty of safe, effective acceptable and affordable HIV vaccine and microbicides products for all Nigerians. NHVMAS works to ensure the proactive participation of Nigerian and Nigerians in Global effort for the development of HIV vaccine and microbicides. it recognises that there is an ethical imperative to seek, as urgent as possible an effective and acceptable vaccine to complement other existing and emerging provention strategies

NHVMAS is oppen to all Nigerians and seek to patnet with as many group as possible. You can contact NHVMAS for more infomation on how you can join in the national advocacy for the development of a safe effective and affordable HIV vaccine that can put a halt to the HIV/AIDS epidemic