SPRINGFIELD,Mo– An experimental vaccine is making waves in the medical world.

It’s aiming to prevent HIV all-together.And it’s scheduled for trial later this year, to help with the AIDS epidemic in South Africa.

Experts say the vaccine first showed up on their radar in Thailand back in 2009. This was the first vaccine to show any protection against HIV, with 60% showing immunity in the first year.

The new South African trial will test more than 5,000 HIV negative men and women starting in November and lasting for two years. This trial will determine if the vaccine is safe and effective.

Lynne Meyerkord, Aids Project of the Ozarks Executive Director, or APO, explains if this works it can be a great reduction in the amount of HIV infection both worldwide in the US and locally.

Meyerkord says this would a tremendous plus even in the Ozarks.

“It’s a hopeful thing,but it’s also a cautiously optimistic thing because there has been so many attempts.”

According to a recent study, in 2015, 2.1 Million new infections were reported, 2/3 of which occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

Meyerkord is hopeful the results will provide evidence to take the vaccine further to make it a licensable regimen.

“Potentially a huge step toward radicating HIV.”

While experts work on a cure, Meyerkord explains there is still a lot of misconception’s that contracting HIV is no big deal because of the medication.

“HIV is still a very serious situation even if the person doesn’t develop full blown AIDS.”

Meyerkord tells KOLR10 if the vaccine were to be approved the main concern she has is the cost in making sure it’s affordable for everyone that is at risk.

“I would hope that we can have more honest conversations about those pieces since they are present in our everyday lives.”

The vaccine will take place in four sites in South Africa this November.

Click Here:For more information about AIDS Project of the Ozarks