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Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Volunteers key to success of Thai vaccine trials By AMBIKA AHUJA AND MICHAEL CASEY,Associated Press Writers - Monday, September 28 Send IM Story Print NONGTAPAN, Thailand – Nearly 16,000 Thais ignored the false rumors that they were being infected by the AIDS virus, and overcame their fears of becoming social outcasts to participate in trials of the first vaccine found to prevent infection with the deadly virus. Many of the volunteers _ an eclectic mix of housewives, fishermen, factory workers, laborers and even prostitutes _ saw first hand how the disease ravaged this region of plantations and industrial estates in southeast Thailand, and they wanted to do their part to end the epidemic that kills millions worldwide each year. "In the 80s, the coffin business was booming around here. It was one family, after another," said Tanad Yomaha, a volunteer whose sister and brother-in-law died of AIDS. "The temple here had at least one cremation ceremony every night and people were in perpetual mourning." Their quiet dedication _ 90 percent of the volunteers stuck with the trial for over six years _ paid off when American and Thai authorities announced Thursday that the experimental vaccine had been found to prevent infection with the AIDS virus, an unexpected result that many scientists thought would never be possible. The vaccine was shown to cut the risk of HIV infection by more than 31 percent, and while the vaccine did not meet the researchers' goal of 50 percent, it could still have a big impact. Every day, 7,500 people worldwide are newly infected with HIV; 2 million died of AIDS in 2007, the U.N. agency UNAIDS estimates. Soon after the trials started, Kim said volunteers heard whispering neighbors say the vaccine contained HIV and that the U.S. Army _ which sponsored the study with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases _ was using a vaccine too dangerous to test in the United States. Some even complained they risked losing their girlfriends or jobs after word spread they were participating in the trials. "I was scared I would become a guinea pig and that they would inject us with AIDS," said Saichon Booncharoen, a 36-year-old, who later became a volunteer and helped recruit other participants. The volunteers, however, said their initial doubts subsided when they learned the vaccine was not made from whole virus _ dead or alive _ and cannot cause HIV. Ministry health workers educated potential volunteers about the vaccine and AIDS, and researchers worked with communities to stamp out rumors and misinformation. "I spoke to my parents and local doctors and thought about it for months," Saichon said. "Eventually, I decided I wanted to do this to be a part of something bigger, something beyond myself." The study was conducted by the Thai Ministry of Public Health, which used strains of HIV common in Thailand. Scientists stressed, however, that it was unknown whether the vaccine would work against other strains found in places like the U.S. or Africa. The study tested a two-vaccine combo in a "prime-boost" approach, where the first one primes the immune system to attack HIV and the second one strengthens the response. The first, named ALVAC, is made by Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis, and the second is AIDSVAX, originally developed by VaxGen Inc. and now held by Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases, a nonprofit founded by former VaxGen employees. Col. Jerome Kim, who helped lead the study for the U.S. Army, said researchers settled on Rayong and Chonburi provinces because they had slightly higher rates of HIV than other parts of Thailand and a relatively stationary population. The study tested the combination in HIV-negative men and women ages 18 to 30 who were in good health and at average risk of becoming infected. They were counseled against having unsafe sex or intravenous drug use and were allowed to drop out at any time. No other conditions or limitations applied. Half received the vaccine combination and others received placebo shots. No one knew who got what. "We enrolled people irrespective of where they worked and what they did," said Kim, who oversaw the trials for four years in Thailand with the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences. "It is a true representation of the people who live and work there." Saichon was typical of most volunteers who signed up for altruistic reasons, rather than the 300 ($9) to 500 baht ($15) for each clinic visit, Kim said. "They looked on this as a patriotic thing," Kim said. "To us, it seemed quite a noble notion." Health workers tracked the volunteers with regular phone calls and house visits. They also organized community health forums and established volunteer groups that allowed participants to bond over trips to the beach or activities like cleaning temples. "It is something very uniquely Thai. Everyone does everything together," Kim said. "It's a lot of social mobilization which would be difficult to do in the United States." The trials may be over but many participants say they formed lasting bonds over the past six years. "We are still doing volunteer work together, taking trips together and going out together," Tanad said. "Now, we are having problems with landfills and garbage dumping in the area so we are brainstorming about what to do next to keep our village unharmed." ___ On the Net: Study information: http://www.hivresearch.org/phase3/factsheet.html Vaccine coalition: http://www.avac.org/ UNAIDS: http://tinyurl.com/krq7kr Government AIDS info: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/ Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles India minister says had candid talks with Pakistani Reuters - 2 hours 25 minutes ago US says climate bill might not pass in time AP - Monday, September 28 Top Afghan official threatens to quit after attack AP - Monday, September 28 Study says China quake a once in 4,000 years event AP - Monday, September 28 Volunteers key to success of Thai vaccine trials AP - Monday, September 28 News Search Top Stories Gulf single currency should be phased: Kuwait Iran state telecoms firm privatised in eight-bln-dollar deal Signs of life stir Zimbabwe's stock market French PM confirms EDF chairman to be replaced Belgian banks seek millions from Lehman bankruptcy: report More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Scientists make paralysed rats run again Kasparov beats Karpov in chess legends' rematch Belgian banks seek millions from Lehman bankruptcy: report Signs of life stir Zimbabwe's stock market Swine flu vaccines win approval More Most Viewed » Ozone hole smaller in 2009 than 2008: WMO Remains of Jesus-era synagogue found in Israel Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! 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