[themsrsdude]

This is a simple question that probably has a simple answer, but it alludes me right now. How does one test the effectiveness of a vaccine for a deadly disease such as AIDS? I know that a lot of testing occurs on animals, but who in their right mind would willingly be the first person to take the vaccine and then purposely allow themselves to be injected 'with HIV?

[indocrew]

Such experimental vaccines are usually administered to high-risk populations (IVDUs, for instance), and then monitored over a period of time to test their effectiveness.

[indocrew]

The downside to the eventual HIV vaccine (and this is strictly my guess/opinion) is that the cultural fear of HIV/AIDS has ushered in a moderately successful era of safe sex practices which could crumble once the flag goes up that we're safe against HIV. People forget how much other nasty stuff is out there besides HIV. "Oh, there's an AIDS vaccine, so we don't need condoms anymore."

[furious1]

doesnt answer your question but interesting nonetheless...

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/...ine-hope-.html

[Seerseraxlils]

I expect double blind tests on those infected and/or double blind tests on those who are, as Waters said, high risk groups. In either case, I believe a statistical method is generally used to assess the effectiveness of the vaccines.