PrEPVacc Vaccine Results Dissemination at SAMRC Verulam: A Step Towards Hope
By Neetha Morar, Senior Research Manager, HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council
The SAMRC Verulam site in Durban hosted three significant events to disseminate the results of the PrEPVacc vaccine trial to participants and stakeholders before public communication at the AIDS 2024 conference in Germany.
PrEPVacc Investigators discuss the results of the vaccine trial with participants at a meeting on 18 July
On 17 July, an impressive turnout of 77 participants came together to hear the results, engage in discussions and receive explanations about the trial's messages in both English and isiZulu.
The following day, Mandela Day, 18 July, a stakeholders' event was held, attended by 21 key figures, including members of the Community Working Group, the South African Local Health Department, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, Ethics committee members, the Local Health Authority, SAMRC CEO, other scientists and the HIDRU Unit Deputy Director. The event was followed by a second session with study participants, in which 56 individuals attended and actively participated.
The dissemination sessions were marked by insightful questions and responses from the participants attending.
“It is the psychology of people to believe that everything in the trial will work to prevent HIV, but we were told that this is a trial and we do not know if the vaccines work and we were also therefore given PrEP.” – Male participant in PrEPVacc, Durban
Some of the key questions raised included inquiries about the impact of blood type on disease risk, the possibility of testing for HIV at local clinics, and the timeline for knowing which vaccine was administered to individual participants in the study.
Questions and comments raised by participants
“At least we tried” Will we work on other vaccines?
“There is HOPE to get another vaccine, if research continues”
Does the blood type affect the risk of getting diseases?
Can I now go and test for HIV at the local clinic?
When will I know which vaccine I got in the study?
What are the lessons learnt?
What would we do different in the next trial?
How do we address vaccine hesitancy post COVID-19? Are participants and community interested in vaccines?
What are the reasons for the incidence rates seen in this trial?
Should we review HIV prevention trial designs in future?
Participants also expressed their thoughts on the importance of continuing HIV treatment and the need for vaccines that do not cause side effects like skin itching and loss of appetite. Some participants acknowledged that they had not used PrEP correctly or consistently and said that they thought that they would be protected if they took their PrEP just before visits to the clinic.
Participants recognised that vaccines do not give them HIV, and that they want choice in prevention methods, saying ‘We do not like condoms and taking tablets, we need a vaccine.’
The PrEPVacc team received commendations for their well-conducted study and their effective approach to open and transparent community engagement. Following the conclusion of the trial, one participant even volunteered to become an educator about trials within the community.
As the PrEPVacc trial draws to a close, there is a sense of hope and determination among the participants and stakeholders. The community's engagement and the team's dedication highlight the ongoing collective effort to advance HIV prevention and vaccine research.
The Verulam clinical research site in the North of Durban was the only South African site and the team provided oral PrEP to all participants. The team members are continuing with study results dissemination to all study volunteers, stakeholders and collaborators. Counselling and promotion of available HIV prevention methods are part of the unblinding process where study volunteers will learn which study arm they were randomised to during the trial.