Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) are among the most infectious and of significant concerns in the healthcare system. These diseases have a high mortality rate when not well managed. For this reason, medical staff have it as a necessity to develop a vaccine. The vaccination development of either HIV or HCV may take place within the next ten years.

While numerous people are living with HIV, they also have access to treatment which allows them to live longer lives. Historically vaccines are most effective in the prevention and eradication of infectious disease, thereby preventing death and illness (Burton, 2019). At the moment, the HIV vaccine trials are ongoing based on inducing the antibodies and T cells immunity. Research shows that HIV infection induces broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) which could affect ongoing infection in humans (Burton, 2019). The trial may, in the next years reveal the level of bnAbs that protect humans from the acquisition of HIV (Burton, 2019). Treatment may ensure prolonged lives, but vaccines will ensure that the risk of death reduces.

The Hepatitis C virus is highly infectious. HCV causes chronic and also acute infection thereby making it a global problem. Current treatments do not prevent reinfection and are highly expensive (Duncan et al. 2020). There has been various vaccine approaches with minimal of these approaches reaching human trials. The attempts are to generate a subunit vaccine which focuses on targeting the HCV E proteins (Duncan et al. 2020). Virus-like particles are also a promising direction in the research for an HCV vaccine (Duncan et al. 2020). Another area that the search HCV vaccine design may involve is viral vectors. These vectors can induce high level cellular immune responses which could be a great attribute in the vaccine (Duncan et al. 2020). Creation of a vaccine would ensure that infections reduce and lives saved.

HIV and HCV are highly infectious diseases which create a need for the medical practitioners to prioritize the creation of vaccines. Creation of the vaccines, though separately is still ongoing. The next ten years will therefore see both infectious viruses have vaccination ensuring reduction of death, infections thereby saving lives.