I’m hesitant to jump up and down just yet, but breaking news this week is that a new HIV vaccine could cut infection rates by 31%. This is good news in what has been a difficult road of research. More than 16,000 people were involved in the trial, which took place in Thailand. Vaccines are usually more effective than 31%, yet if this outcome is consistent in further investigation, even this rate could cut HIV infection prevalence significantly. (Vaccine effectiveness rates differ, but for example, the HPV vaccine is estimated at being close to 100 % effective. However, critics point out we don’t know how long that immunity lasts, making the HPV vaccination schedule questionable). 

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My husband and I have started watching True Blood – the HBO vampire series that takes place in the American deep South.  Vampires are about nothing if not sex and lust; they seduce you so that they can drink your blood.  So, as one might expect, it’s a pretty sex-filled show.  I was impressed to see that condoms featured in two scenes early in the first season.  Of course, ideally it would be so commonplace for sex in the media to be accompanied by condoms that I wouldn’t have noticed.  But it isn’t, so when the first vampire-orgy condom came flying off with that familiar elastic latex “thwack”, my hubby and I exchanged wide-eyed grins and exclaimed in unison, “That was a condom!”

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Do you think it’s offensive to point out to Canadians that their attitudes and knowledge about HIV/AIDS might be ill-informed? To point out that they don’t think heterosexuals get HIV or that people don’t use condoms? A company that had promised to support ads for the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is worried this is the case, and has pulled their offer to air them. Interesting. I watched the ad, and didn’t find it insulting at all. Given the kinds of phone calls and email enquiries we get at PWN, I don’t think it’s inaccurate. Thinking that the implication that Canadians don’t know enough about HIV is what’s considered “insulting,” I decided to see what Canadians do know. Luckily, the Public Health Agency of Canada thought of it first (convenient, I know).

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Dr. Khami Chokani shocked us recently when he told the press that HIV would kill 15 to 30 percent of Saskatchewan’s Aboriginal population within five or ten years.  He also compared the situation on reserves in his province to the epidemics in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.  Given the three-fold increase in infection rates since 2004, it is understandable that the medical health officer for the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region is alarmed and wishes to incite a pro-active response from government and community.  It is also understandable that his claims ruffled some feathers, and while he has not formally rescinded the comment, he and his colleagues have admitted that this worst-case scenario is unlikely.

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