Some COVID-19 vaccines could increase risk of HIV, researchers warn

REUTERS

Some coronavirus vaccine candidates currently under development could increase susceptibility to HIV, a group of researchers has warned.

A modified virus being used in four COVID-19 vaccine contenders — called adenovirus 5 (Ad5) — has been shown to increase transmission of the AIDS virus in the past, the researchers wrote in a “cautionary tale” published in The Lancet medical journal Monday.

Adenoviruses — a group of common viruses which can cause a range of illnesses, including the common cold — are sometimes genetically engineered and used to create inoculations.

But the Ad5 strain used in a potential HIV vaccination a decade ago was found to make some men more vulnerable to HIV in placebo-controlled trials, according to Science Magzine.