As I understand it, the reason an HIV vaccine has been so difficult to create is that HIV mutates so easily. I understand the basics behind how mRNA vaccines are generated, but I don't understand why this approach would be expected to have any more success in evading the high mutation potential of HIV than other vaccine types. After all, it was even a concern with new coronavirus variants that the original Moderna va…
I’m not a doctor, but as a gay man: it’s my understanding HIV doesn’t mutate in the same way a disease like Covid does, at least not in the sense that there’s as many opportunities to spread (i.e. not airborne), so while HIV may actually mutate more in theory, it gets less chances to spread, so less completely-different variants become widespread. Also, as part of “stopping the spread” PrEP has existed for years. It’…
Re: Moderna’s HIV vaccine has officially begun human trials
#171Small correction: PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) are both protocols for using drugs to prevent infection. You generally take PrEP drugs every day if you think you're in danger of being exposed, or alternatively take PEP if you think you have been exposed to HIV without any kind of protection, sort of like a morning after pill (but every day for a whole month).