Myth Busters

• An HIV vaccine does not already exist.
  Some people believe that a vaccine for HIV has already been developed. Unfortunately, this is not true. To date, there is no effective vaccine against HIV; however, efforts are underway to create one.
  
  This myth may be perpetuated because of a confusing report on a previous vaccine trial that suggested potentially higher levels of efficacy among non-Hispanic ethnic minorities (including African-Americans). Scientific review of the report demonstrated that mistakes were made in the statistical analysis and no group showed greater protection with this vaccine. But this did reinforce the need to gain enough representation from each group before any effects can be detected.
  
  
• HIV was not created by the U.S. government.
  HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is almost identical to a strain of a similar virus found in chimpanzees. Many human viruses, such as the flu, originated in other mammals and over time have spread to humans. This is likely what has happened with HIV.
  
  
• HIV vaccine trials cannot cause HIV.
  It is impossible to get an HIV infection or develop AIDS from experimental vaccines. Some vaccines, like flu shots, are made from the germs that cause the disease. HIV vaccines are not made from live HIV, killed HIV, weakened HIV, or HIV-infected cells. Instead, scientists make a safe replica using similar looking genes, teaching the body how to fight the infection.