Rolling up our sleeves now to reap the benefits later: preparing the community for an adolescent HIV vaccine

Abstract

Purpose of review: The staggering global incidence of HIV among youth and recent advances in the vaccine research pipeline have prompted a dialogue between investigators and the community whose adolescents are potential trial participants. We update progress on relevant efforts to prepare communities for HIV vaccine trials in youth and explore crucial next steps that may ensure willingness of communities to participate when such trials are offered.

Recent findings: Scientists hope that an effective HIV vaccine will confer highly reliable primary prevention; however, for optimal effectiveness in this vulnerable population, it must be administered before sexual debut. In addition to general participant concerns about HIV vaccine research, adolescent-focused researchers are challenged with caregiver and provider attitudes, ethical considerations (autonomy, consent, and confidentiality), and regulatory constraints. Several ongoing community HIV vaccine research preparation initiatives are addressing these challenges. Throughout the USA, a youth-oriented HIV research infrastructure was established by Connect-to-Protect (a program conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-supported Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions) to mobilize communities, monitor intervention impact, provide HIV vaccine education, and effect structural change to decrease HIV among youths.

Summary: The inclusion of youth in plans for HIV vaccine research is timely and must be ensured. Communities want decision-making capacity, educational opportunities, and multifaceted HIV prevention contributions from researchers.