Potential AIDS vaccine heartening, but adds new challenges, health workers say

News of a potential AIDS vaccine sounds great - but even if it works, not everyone would take it.

That's the sobering message from people who work with those who have the disease in the suburbs. They caution that, just as with preventive measures for AIDS and other diseases today, some people just won't take advantage of it.

Still, "It's great to get some good news," said Jim Picket, director of advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

"This is the first vaccine trial to show a positive result, and it proves the concept that we can find a vaccine to prevent HIV transmission."

The good news is that a new experimental vaccine found a 31 percent reduction in new HIV cases among those who took it compared to a group that took a placebo.

The trial involved a strain of the disease prevalent in Thailand, so it might not work as well elsewhere and will require years of additional testing.

Nevertheless, "Some encouraging news is nice to hear, especially since we haven't had any about vaccines," said Eric Nelson, executive director of Better Existence with HIV, which serves northern Cook County.

But he said there is always some resistance to vaccines, particularly those for sexually transmitted diseases - partly because of denial, and because their use implies an expectation of sexual activity.

For instance, health officials recommend the new vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus for women and girls age 9 to 26, which can in turn prevent cervical cancer. Yet as of last year, only about 20 percent of the target group had gotten the shots.

"It moves from a medical argument," Nelson said, "to a moral argument."

Others don't believe they are at risk, such as many heterosexuals - even though the federal government says they are among the fastest-growing groups getting the virus.

And among gay men, the largest group of those with HIV, there are still those who don't believe it could happen to them.

"The challenge in the suburbs is the same as everywhere - denial," Pickett said.

While a vaccine is still far off, Pickett said, people need to know their HIV status and that of their sexual partner, and use the best protection available, such as condoms.