Charles Wendo and Joan Mugenzi
12 February 2003
Kampala — THE first volunteer for Uganda's second HIV vaccine trial received the injection on Monday at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe, scientists have said.
The volunteer, a 36-year-old man, received his first jab at 11:00 am. The second volunteer, a 28-year-old, received it yesterday.
The experimental vaccine code-named DNA-MVA, is already being tested in Britain and Kenya, according to a statement from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). It is one of a series of experimental vaccines that will be tested in Uganda.
"The vaccines do not contain HIV, and therefore cannot cause HIV infection," IAVI explained in a statement.
Dr. Pontiano Kaleebu, Uganda's principal investigator for the trial, said they had recruited six out of the 50 volunteers needed.
"Recruitment of volunteers is going to be a continuous process," Kaleebu told The New Vision.
Each volunteer will receive four injections in seven months. All volunteers will be men and women aged between 18 and 50, who do not have HIV infection. They will receive medical care and be insured against eventualities.
The first phase of the trial will last two years.
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