The Nairobi Declaration: An African Appeal for an HIV Vaccine

* Sensitise politicians, religious leaders, NGOs, professional groups, media and the
public at large, portraying HIV/AIDS as a health, security, developmental and
economic issue.
* Develop information/communication "packages" and approaches appropriate for
the different audiences, providing specific information on how the various parties
can support the vaccine initiative.
* Advocate for the African HIV Vaccine Initiative to be included in the National
HIV/AIDS Strategic Plans.
2. Guidance and coordination:
* Establish a coordinating mechanism (or Steering Committee) for the African HIV
Vaccine Initiative.
* Establish subgroups or task forces in different areas (e.g., science, resource
mobilisation, ethics, advocacy and communications).
* Network people working in different areas relevant to HIV vaccine development,
strengthening existing Networks (e.g., the Society of AIDS in Africa, the African
AIDS Research Network).
* Develop, when appropriate, National AIDS Vaccine Plans and/or Strategies, to
coordinate HIV vaccine activities within individual countries.
* Develop general guidelines in relevant areas (e.g., ethics, conduct of clinical trials,
communication, community participation).
* Establish linkages with WHO-UNAIDS for technical and financial support, and to
facilitate access to relevant international agencies and bodies.
3. Promotion of appropriate candidate vaccines:
* Prioritise the development of preventive vaccines but also consider, when
appropriate, therapeutic vaccines and vaccines to prevent vertical transmission.
* Ensure that countries intending to select candidate vaccines for testing have
appropriate and competent regulatory authorities (WHO-UNAIDS can be
approached for advice and independent evaluation).
* Continue monitoring the distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in Africa (including
genetic, biological and immunological characterisation) to select strains to be used
in the manufacturing of candidate vaccines, to match trial populations with
candidate vaccines, to interpret results of clinical trials, and to obtain information
which could be relevant to decide how and where to use future effective vaccines.
* Support research to understand the immunological/vaccine relevance of the HIV-1
genetic subtypes.
* Explore, through international collaboration, approaches for the development of
broadly reactive (global) vaccines, as this would be of benefit to Africa and the
world, and encourage industrial investment.
* Train African scientists in methods relevant to vaccine development and
monitoring.
* Identify and support opportunities for a local contribution to the process of
candidate vaccine development (e.g., the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative),
including possibilities for GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) production.