Starting with the basics, this article will provide some information that will help to clarify these and other issues. A vaccine is a preparation that contains an infectious agent or its components that is given to stimulate an immune response that will protect a person from illness due to that agent.
Vaccine possibilities Vaccines fall into one of a variety of classes.
Whole-killed vaccines are used for polio and flu, and are based on some of the oldest vaccine technologies. Even though it has been shown that HIV can be safely inactivated, there are no private companies developing a preventative whole-killed vaccine at this time. A substance called an adjuvant is added to enhance or boost the effect of the vaccine. The product has been used in humans for more than 10 years but has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. There is concern however, that attenuated HIV, once in the human body, may have the potential to mutate into a disease-causing strain.