Commun Med (Lond). 2022; 2(NA):110.

PubMed ID: 36045906

Leveraging lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for HIV

Calder T, Tong T, Hu DJ, Kim JH, Kotloff KL, Koup RA, Marovich MA, McElrath MJ, Read SW, Robb ML, Renzullo PO, D'Souza MP

The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines and their deployment in less than a year is an unprecedented scientific, medical, and public health achievement. This rapid development leveraged knowledge from decades of HIV/AIDS research and advances. However, the search for an HIV vaccine that would contribute to a durable end to the HIV pandemic remains elusive. Here, we draw from the US government experience and highlight lessons learned from COVID-19 vaccine development, which include the importance of public-private partnerships, equitable inclusion of populations impacted by the infectious pathogen, and continued investment in basic research. We summarize key considerations for an accelerated and re-energized framework for developing a safe and efficacious HIV vaccine.