Worldwide, over two million people suffer from both human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C viruses concurrently. This is because the two viruses, which there currently exists no vaccines against them, can easily co-infect one person. There is, however, considerable progress in trying to come up with a vaccine for both of these, although there seems to be still no end in sight, considering the shortfalls each effort has faced.
Scientists are considering a possibility of researching on one vaccine that can tackle both viruses at the same time. This, as well, is yet to stand the test of time if it will be realized. In recent times, there has been a lot of progress in trying to come up with a vaccine, despite the challenges facing the projects due to the nature of the viruses involved, since it is widely known that they mutate to counter the immune system’s attempts of fighting them.
Although there has been a lot of progress in recent times, a vaccine against the two viruses may not be realized in the next ten years. The main challenge of this fight involves the constantly mutating and evolving nature of the viruses causing these infections (In LeGrice & In Götte, 2013, p. 313), as well as difficulties in getting a relevant animal model which can exactly match the immune system of human beings.
It is also to be noted with very big concern that the major undoing to this cause will be the little or no pharmaceutical interest from that is being witnessed the world over. Development of a vaccine or any drug for that matter requires a lot of resources both time and funding. Coming up with improved anti-retroviral drugs, which have already proven to be working, will be easier for the big pharmaceutical companies than to pursue the ever elusive chance of getting a vaccine against the two viruses. Drugs to treat the two are now a multi-billion-dollar business and unless there is good will from these big corporations, we may never get close to a breakthrough in acquiring a vaccine for the same.
References
In LeGrice, S., & In Götte, M. (2013). Human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase: A bench-to-bedside success.
