SUAC0308 | A SCOPING REVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF VACCINE CHARACTERISTICS ON THE ACCEPTABILITY OF HIV VACCINES: CURRENT GLOBAL TRAJECTORY OF EVIDENCE

Uzochukwu Chima, Blessing Ukoha-Kalu, Abdulmuminu Isah, Jennifer Onyehalu, Somtochukwu Anierobi, Chisom Amoke, Zughumnaan Tang’An, Gabriel Ezenri, Chukwuemeka Nwachuya, Pearl Ngige | Person-Centered HIV Research Team, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Developing safe and effective preventive HIV vaccines is the best long-term solution for controlling the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Nonetheless, characteristics of future HIV vaccines may influence their acceptability. The aim of this scoping review was to determine the impact of vaccine characteristics on the acceptability of future HIV vaccines. Using the Arksey & O’Malley’s (2005) guidelines, we searched the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases for peer-reviewed articles published from Jan 1996 to Dec 2024 using the terms HIV, HIV Vaccines, Vaccine Characteristics, Acceptability, and Impact. Two authors independently conducted the title/abstract and full-text screening. Data from the included articles were charted and summarized. Out of 1,228 studies screened, only 11 met the inclusion criteria. Most of these studies were quantitative (9/11, 81.8%), conducted in the USA (9/11, 81.8%), and employed conjoint analysis (7/11, 63.6%). Key populations, such as men who have sex with men (3/11, 27.2%) and adolescents (4/11, 36.4%), were featured in few studies. Several vaccine characteristics were identified: efficacy had the greatest influence on HIV vaccine acceptability in most studies (8/11, 72.7%), with impact scores ranging from 15.9 to 51.4%. Side effects/safety ranked second in influence in 5 studies (45.4%), with impact scores between 8.56 and 13.9%. Vaccine cost was the third most significant factor, reported in 5 studies (45.4%) with scores ranging from 7.57 to 19.4%. Duration of protection ranked fourth in 4 studies (36.4%) with scores between 5.2 and 8.3%. The type of vaccine (killed, live attenuated, synthetic) was the second most important factor in two studies (18.2%), with impact scores between 22.9 and 24.3%. The mode of delivery had no effect in two studies (18.2%). Vaccines with the highest acceptability featured characteristics such as high efficacy (80–99%), long protection duration (10 years), a single dose, affordability ($0–$50), and mild or no side effects. Efficacy was the most impactful characteristic influencing HIV vaccine acceptability, followed by side effects/safety and cost. Educational programs emphasizing the benefits of partially efficacious HIV vaccines, along with transparent communication about side effects and cost subsidies, may boost HIV vaccine uptake.