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I didn't know about PrEP, but from what I've just read it has to be taken daily in order to be effective. A vaccine could be a safer method.

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It does not have to be taken daily - https://www.iwantprepnow.co.uk/how-to-take-prep/

I agree it would be better in the end after it’s approved. I’m thinking about getting the ethics board to allow a trial where you have to give half of the participants a control (and the other half a possibly-ineffective vaccine), when a known-good alternative exists.

The other reply has a solid point. Maybe you can find a country where it’s not possible to distribute daily PrEP, but is possible to vaccinate people and then test them for HIV monthly.

True. On the other hand, the effectiveness of PrEP is thought to be as low as 74% among people who inject drugs. It might still be possible to find such people for trials. We should still see a statistically significant effect even if they are taking PrEP daily.

They solved the ethics problem by offering trial participants PrEP for free for the duration of the trials.

Some people who start the trial not taking PrEP will also continue the trial without taking the PrEP they're offered and educated about for free.

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