It’s time to end AIDS: Why the EU should fund HIV vaccine research – Health Policy Watch

The HIV pandemic has affected more than 2.3 million people in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region, with nearly 300 new diagnoses made every day in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical turmoil in the region have impacted the course of the HIV pandemic and response, displacing populations and disrupting access to HIV treatment and testing.

Today, living with HIV is no longer a cause for despair and HIV management is well codified. Because there is no cure, people living with HIV undertake lifelong treatment that allows them to lead long and healthy lives. The effectiveness of the treatment is indisputable but the estimated cost of treatment per person per year remains high. In Spain it is estimated that there are 11,638, while in Germany it rises to around 32,100. In France the cost reaches 14,821, in Italy 6,300.

While the introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 2012 was a breakthrough in HIV prevention in Europe and globally, the burden of HIV continues to fall disproportionately in some regions, such as Eastern Europe, as well as on vulnerable populations which include migrants, prostitutes, people who use drugs and men who have sex with men. These disparities are being felt in various aspects of HIV prevention and treatment, including limited access to testing and the inadequate availability and affordability of prevention tools such as PrEP.

Significant economic and human rights impact

While the incidence of HIV in the region may not be as alarming as in other parts of the world, its impact is significant, not only on European economies but also on the human rights of its marginalized populations.

In this context, immunization is a crucial means of safeguarding public health, reducing morbidity and mortality. It also benefits the social and economic fabric of nations and helps ease the burden on healthcare systems.

Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19 in recent years, European scientists have rallied in the search for an effective HIV vaccine, conducting several early-stage trials with support from Horizon 2020 funding. These trials use original technologies often not developed elsewhere. However, plans and funds are urgently needed to ensure its continuity, especially given the need for larger trials to obtain conclusive results.

So why should Europe invest in finding an HIV vaccine? First, an HIV vaccine would naturally help control the pandemic on the continent, not only from a prevention standpoint, but also because HIV vaccines are critical to the cure and remission of the virus.

At the same time, the vaccine would have a huge impact on improving public health, not only HIV-related problems but other infectious diseases as well. For example, the long-term research conducted for an HIV vaccine has played a crucial role in the rapid development of a vaccine against COVID-19.

Furthermore, it has proved instrumental in paving the way for the development of vaccines for other diseases, not only by strengthening the networks of European research institutes, but by improving the necessary infrastructure. Therefore, investing in an HIV vaccine undoubtedly means investing in pandemic preparedness and global health security.

Finally, the development and distribution of an effective HIV vaccine has the potential to improve global health equity. It would ensure that everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographical location, has access to life-saving technologies, leaving no one behind. Furthermore, an HIV vaccine would further protect vulnerable populations and reduce health inequalities, helping to fight HIV-related stigma and discrimination. By improving prevention and providing opportunities for greater HIV control, an HIV vaccine would have worldwide impact beyond Europe.

vulnerable populations

Through its Global Health Strategy, the European Union is committed to deepening its leadership on global health, ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has access to the highest attainable standards of health, based on solidarity and human rights. This will be achieved by, among other priorities, addressing the root causes of ill health, targeting vulnerable populations, and working on a mechanism that promotes development and equitable access to vaccines.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear, the EU has an unprecedented opportunity to become a global leader in health. Investing in the development of an HIV vaccine that can save lives around the world must be a key part of this strategy, with positive benefits for individual health and human rights, as well as for economies and health security .

It’s time to invest in research and development for an HIV vaccine. The time has come to ensure that the HIV pandemic no longer poses a threat to public health and individual well-being, and thereby protect human rights and promote equity. It’s time to end AIDS.

Frances Fitzgerald is a Member of the European Parliament, Ireland

Sirpa Pietikinen is a Member of the European Parliament, Finland

Sara Cerdas is a Member of the European Parliament, Portugal

Cyrus Engerer is a Member of the European Parliament, Malta

Antoni Comn i Oliveres is a Member of the European Parliament, Spain

Catharina Rinzema is a Member of the European Parliament, Netherlands

Image credits: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona/ Unsplash.