Vaccine Failure Means Setback in AIDS Fight

FOXNews.com ^ | Friday, March 21, 2008 | FOXNews.com

[metmom]

The two-decade search for an AIDS vaccine is in crisis after two field tests of the most promising contender not only did not protect people from the virus but may actually have put them at increased risk of becoming infected, The Washington Post reported.

Experts are questioning the overall strategy and scientific premises of the nearly $500 million in AIDS vaccine research funded annually by the government after the two field tests were halted last September and seven other trials of AIDS vaccines have either been stopped or put off indefinitely.

The recently closed studies, STEP and Phambili, were halted when it became clear the STEP study was futile and possibly harmful.

[Alouette]

All the billions and billions have been wasted, but hey, its the PC disease.

AIDS can be cured by massive injections of concentrated cash. And it's no longer the "hip" disease; Cancer is.

[Alter Kaker]

Sometimes I think we get sock puppets or seminar posters here. I think some of them are paid to do it, too.

If you figure out a way for me to get paid to post on FR, will you please let me know?

Thanks!

Regards,

Alter Kaker

PS.... figured I'd respond to this gem:

So long. I seriously doubt any FReepers were fooled, or impressed by the stuff he posted. At least not guaging by the PMs I got.

Well, I'll for one be shedding many tears for you Judy, but you might be interested to know that I've gotten a number of supportive PMs from people who feel you and your ilk (yes, ilk) aren't worth arguing with. Sorry for intruding into your echo chamber, but I don't represent even close to a majority of the views of the posters on FR.

[metmom]

but I don't represent even close to a majority of the views of the posters on FR.

Truer words were never spoken.

[glock rocks]

Sorry for intruding into your echo chamber, but I don't represent even close to a majority of the views of the posters on FR.

Concur.

[EQAndyBuzz]

The common cold isn’t a lifestyle decision. Getting a cold isn’t being an intravenous drug user or having unprotected sex with high risk individuals.

In the case of blood transfusions your statement rings true.

[Judith Anne]

I’m done with the thread. So far, nothing new has been offered, just the same old lame posts, time after time. From what I have seen of AK’s style, he’ll then toss out some more bait, to see if I really mean it. Note that he has NOT replied to my request to name the posts he denigrates. That’s because they don’t exist, and his entire experience on the thread has been to offer lies. So long. I seriously doubt any FReepers were fooled, or impressed by the stuff he posted. At least not guaging by the PMs I got.

Sorry for intruding into your echo chamber, but I don't represent even close to a majority of the views of the posters on FR.

I'm sure you don't.

[Alter Kaker]

Bigger than cancer? Diabetes? Malaria? TB? Dysentary?

Yes, bigger than all of those. I think malaria is probably second. Obesity and related conditions (including type ii diabetes and several associated forms of heart disease) probably third and climbing.

I think most public health professionals (and I am certainly not one) would agree with me, and I would hope their opinions would carry a bit more weight.

You don't think there aren't diseases in Africa that claim more lives than AIDS/HIV is alleged to, that don't deserve the funding?

I've been pretty clear on this throughout the thread: that I am in no way expert enough to place monetary values on different diseases. That's way outside my field of expertise, and best left to budget analysts and policy makers. I originally came on this thread to fight posters who seemed to be saying that any funding to develop treatments or vaccines for HIV/AIDS is problematic. That's wrong, that's radically wrong and that's what I'm arguing against.

[Alter Kaker]

truer words were never spoken.

Ok, I need another cup of coffee. I admit when I screwed up and I sure screwed up that sentence! Have at it, folks.

Cheers!

[Alter Kaker]

The common cold isn’t a lifestyle decision.

The hell it isn't. There are plenty of behaviors that predispose you to catching or spreading a cold: associating with large numbers of other people is very often voluntary and avoidable. Going to a concert, a bar, or a theater will expose you to lots of other people. Choosing to go see a movie each week, regardless of the consequences, is a lifestyle choice.

Washing or not washing hands may not seem like a "lifestyle choice," but it's really not a lot different than choosing to use or not use a condom.

People can take sick days or choose not to, they can apply for jobs in risky environments (e.g. elementary schools, hospitals) and they can choose in some cases to telecommute.

All of those decisions are in some senses lifestyle choices, and all have a huge effect on your chances of catching or spreading a cold (or flu or other such ailment).

[ModelBreaker]

Yet the only threads in which the victims of a disease are regularly blamed are HIV/AIDS threads.

With all due respect, promiscuous anal sex is a lot different than not washing your hands. So too are the consequences of the behavior, or failure to act.

If you cannot see a moral distinction between the two situations, I cannot help you. It's sort of one of those, "you either get it or you don't."

Seems to me though, you are spending a lot of time in "self-righteous moral indignation" (I think that's the phrase you used) about folks who do see the difference between the two situations and are cheeky enough to say so. Your morality says that anyone who sees a moral dimension to sexual issues should shut up NOW. If they don't, Alter Kaker will scold them like Church Lady. See the irony?

[isrul]

This is probably good news. Because when they develop one, they'll surely want to pump it into your kids, shortly after birth.

[ModelBreaker]

This mindset of spending so much for a cure is equivalent to telling people not to bother washing their hands to prevent colds, we’ll just find a cure for colds. Or telling people not to bother quitting smoking, or watching what they eat, because we’ll just simply find a *cure* for whatever afflicts them. Then all the blame for the consequences is on the people who didn’t find the cure. It absolves people of personal responsibility. Besides, with all those other diseases, we already ARE advising lifestyle choices, something that isn’t happening with the AIDS/HIV issue. So what happens next? Say a vaccine is discovered? The next step would be making it mandatory for the entire population just because some might at some point engage in risky behavior? Or become the victim of unfortunate circumstances? Just like what is happening with the HPV vaccine? Those infected with AIDS/HIV have a moral responsibility to stop their behavior that they KNOW will result in the deaths of others and stop shifting the blame for that on anyone else who hasn’t found a cure. But moral behavior is something the GLBT community is not known for, so I wouldn’t expect this level of responsibility from them.

Very nicely said.

[I see my hands]

"If the vaccine were accompanied by self-control it might work better"

What bearing does behavior have on the effectiveness of a vaccine?

[bill1952]

You want to shut down sub-Saharan Africa?

Idiotic argument.

It "breeds" right here.

[trisham]

Seems to me though, you are spending a lot of time in "self-righteous moral indignation" (I think that's the phrase you used) about folks who do see the difference between the two situations and are cheeky enough to say so. Your morality says that anyone who sees a moral dimension to sexual issues should shut up NOW. If they don't, Alter Kaker will scold them like Church Lady. See the irony?

**********************

That sound you hear is me, applauding. Well done.

[Alter Kaker]

Prepare for an onslaught. Commonsense is not permitted on this thread.

[Cacique]

As far as I know hardly any virus has ever been cured. We cure Polio by imbuing a kind of immunity by infecting someone with it.

Heck we can’t even cure the common cold. Research on AIDS is a waste of money for a virus that people get by voluntarily engaing in activities that get them infected. It is better to use that money for diseases that have far greater impact on the human race than a disease we are only fighting because of the gay lobby.

[Cacique]

engaing=engaging

[trisham]

Prepare for an onslaught. Commonsense is not permitted on this thread.

*****************

Evidently, whining is permitted, however.

[metmom]

Exactly. Just like they’re trying with HPV.