Story
February 16, 2026
Slashed by Trump, This Cutting-Edge HIV Vaccine Has a New Path (Audio)
Country:
The country may be on the cusp of a few extraordinary advances.
HIV continues to infect and kill people disproportionately in sub-Saharan Africa.
Early last year, a hundred researchers, clinicians and other experts on HIV discussed the development of an innovative vaccine that could prevent the disease.
But just as the meeting was about to wrap up, the mood darkened.
A new executive order signed by President Trump on the day of his inauguration, Jan. 20, 2025, had frozen all foreign aid pending a review. Soon, DOGE would begin its decimation of USAID — and with it, this vaccine trial. That is — until the South African researchers came up with a new plan.
Read more of freelance science reporter Ari Daniel's story here.
This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. The audio engineer was Jimmy Keeley.
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