Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Feb 8, 2022
Date Accepted: May 19, 2022
HIV Digital Vaccine Strategy: Proposal for Applying Blockchain in Preventing the Spread of HIV
ABSTRACT
Background:
The HIV epidemic imposes a heavy burden on societal development. Protection of susceptible populations is the most feasible method for eliminating the spread of HIV. In the absence of a biological vaccine, the definitive solution is enabling susceptible populations to recognize and avoid high-risk sexual behavior.
Objective:
The objective of this study is to use specific technologies and strategies to establish a system by which HIV high-risk individuals can determine the HIV infection status of one another in a convenient, anonymous, and credible manner.
Methods:
This study proposes an HIV digital vaccine strategy (HDV): a decentralized application (Dapp) based on blockchain for use by individuals with a high risk of HIV and accredited testing agencies (ATAs). Following testing, only the HIV-negative results (or linked information) are uploaded to the blockchain, which results in high-risk individuals being able to determine the HIV-negative status of each other in a convenient, anonymous, and credible manner.
Results:
Future work includes: 1. A survey of the willingness to use Dapps among HIV high-risk populations. 2. A larger framework containing both HDV and people living with HIV (PLH) and discussing the influence of HDV on PLH and its possible solutions. 3. Coordinating with the blockchain development team, ATAs, community-based organizations, and third-party organizations to raise funds, develop the Dapp, formulate detailed plans, and publicize and promote, etc. The exact timeline cannot be determined at this time.
Conclusions:
The HDV strategy may reduce the occurrence of high-risk sexual behavior and effectively protect susceptible populations; combined with current strategies, it is a promising solution to prevent the spread of HIV. The included conception of decentralized surveillance and surveillance as intervention may spark a change in current infectious disease prevention and control modes to introduce beneficial innovations in public health systems globally.
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