Department of Community Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Nijmegen International Center for Health System Analysis and Education (NICHE), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Netherlands; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, South Africa
Nagelkerke, N.J.D., Department of Community Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Hontelez, J.A.C., Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Nijmegen International Center for Health System Analysis and Education (NICHE), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Netherlands, Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, South Africa; de Vlas, S.J., Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Background: The RV144 trial on the ALVAC/AIDSVAX candidate HIV vaccine, carried out in Thailand, showed short-lived protection against infection. Methods: Using a deterministic compartmental model we explored the potential impact of this vaccine on heterosexual HIV transmission in Thailand. Both one-off vaccination strategies, as well as strategies with regular boosting, either annually or every two years, were explored. Both targeting the general adult population and prioritizing sex workers were modeled. The impact of risk compensation among high risk groups, as well as whether higher levels of safe sex in high risk groups could be an alternative to vaccination, was studied. Results: One-off vaccination campaigns had only transient effects, and boosting appears to be a key component of successful vaccination campaigns. Intensive vaccination campaigns may reduce HIV incidence by up to 75% after 10 years of vaccination. Targeting only sex workers has a smaller impact but has a more favorable cost-benefit ratio. Risk compensation has the potential of undoing much of the benefits of a vaccination program and may even increase incidence. In contrast, higher levels of safe sex among sex workers would provide a viable alternative to vaccinating this group. Discussion: The new vaccine holds promise for controlling HIV in Thailand and similar countries. In view of the short lived protection of the vaccine, regular boosting of immunity as well as avoidance of risk compensation are essential. Targeting sex workers would achieve the greatest reduction in incidence per vaccination and may be considered for expensive vaccines but its cost-effectiveness has to be compared to alternatives. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
alvac; Human immunodeficiency virus vaccine; unclassified drug; article; compartment model; cost benefit analysis; cost effectiveness analysis; heterosexuality; high risk population; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; population research; priority journal; prostitution; safe sex; sensitivity analysis; Thailand; vaccination; virus transmission; Adult; AIDS Vaccines; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; HIV; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunization Programs; Immunization, Secondary; Incidence; Male; Models, Theoretical; Risk Factors; Safe Sex; Sex Workers; Sexual Behavior; Thailand; Vaccination