A recent review of a trail of HIV vaccine in the country of Thailand has helped researchers reach the conclusion that it does show actual signs of having a protective effect. Last month, researchers declared that a grouping of said vaccines gave a 31% level of safety in experiments, which were conducted on 16,000 heterosexual persons, aged between 18-30 years.

Doubts were raised regarding the significance of the new findings, but novel information issued at a meeting in Paris showed that although on a small scale, the results are statistically important and strong.

Scientists, however, admitted that they don’t recognize what is causing the effect, and the vaccine seems to offer less protection to people most at risk of contracting HIV. US Military HIV Research Program's Colonel Nelson Michael stated that despite the drawback, this is definitely a strong step in the right direction.

"It's important that people understand that this is a scientific advance, a scientific breakthrough. It is not a public health breakthrough; there is not a vaccine that is around the corner", he said.

Despite their initial joy when results from Thailand first came in, lots of scientists were worried that the defensive effect was too small. Among the 8,000 or so who had the vaccinum, 51 got the virus.

Among those who received a placebo, 74 were infected with the virus. However, everyone did agree that the overall impression is positive.

Much, researchers and scientists agree, still needs to be discovered.