(ii) develop long-term immunity against HIV in them prior to sexual debut through a safe and effective HIV vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule.
She shared that
multiple HIV antibodies are in development. Some passive monoclonal-antibody prevention studies have been conducted in human infants and have shown very
encouraging data so far. Currently we have the IMPAACT P1112 (phase 1/2) study
for administering antibodies to HIV-exposed infants at birth and while
breastfeeding.
Thus, in future, passive immunisation given in early infancy could reduce HIV
transmission during breastfeeding, and, when combined with multiple doses of an
effective HIV vaccine, immune strategies could be a viable approach to close
the gap and induce lifelong immunity to HIV prior to sexual exposure as a young
adult.
Philippa Musoke, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at Makerere
University, Uganda, believes that an AIDS-free generation is on the horizon.
"But if we are to meet the target for elimination of mother-to-child
transmission of HIV by 2030, a lot still needs to be done. It requires
political commitment to identify pregnant women who seroconvert during
pregnancy and breastfeeding and ensure that they initiate ART quickly. In
addition, all HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women should be supported
to adhere to ART and be retained in care so as to reduce vertical transmission.
Governments, community stakeholders, civil society and people living with HIV -
all will have to commit themselves to push for elimination of mother to child
transmission of HIV," she said.
Shobha Shukla - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Network to #endTB & #endtobacco and #beatNCDs (APCAT Media). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
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