HIV vaccine trials still on

Phase-one trials for an HIV vaccine will proceed, despite the drop-out of two volunteers, the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) said on Friday. UVRI on Monday announced the launch of trials for a vaccine which targets the HIV subtype A, found to be most prevalent in East Africa. "Research of this importance should always be well planned for. The two women who dropped out of the vaccine trials will be replaced without hassle," URVI's head of immunology, Dr. Pontiano Kaleebu, told the UN news service PlusNews. Kaleebu said while only 50 volunteers were selected to participate in the vaccine trials, UVRI had screened 300 people for the event of minor obstacles such as this. "The two volunteers dropped out before being administered the first series of injections," Kaleebu added.