8. Children

Consensus:

Children and adolescents should not be enrolled in preventive HIV vaccine trials.

Discussion:

It was suggested that adult data might be extrapolated to adolescents following completion of a trial. In addition, children and adolescents could be enrolled in later trials after efficacy has been shown in adults.

The age cut-off for eligibility was discussed briefly. It was noted that in some countries the age of legal majority is as low as 12, and that this may not be appropriate for enrolling participants. The definition of ‘child’ in the International Covenant on the Rights of the Child is under 18 years of age, and this was suggested as an appropriate age for vaccine trials.