Young women in South Africa have among the highest rates of new infections in the world, but scientists are optimistic that South Africa is on track to roll-out a partially effective vaccine in about five years time. Young women in South Africa have among the highest rates of new infections in the world, but scientists are optimistic that South Africa is on track to roll-out a partially effective vaccine in about five years time. The vaccine will be tested on 5700-HIV negative South Africans, aged 18 to 35, from November.If the vaccine reduces the risk of contracting HIV by 50%, it will meet the licencing requirements needed by the Medicines Control Council to be brought to market. This was announced by the Head of the Medical Research Council Professor Glenda Gray on Tuesday. She is leading the trial.While many vaccines offer 100% protection, Gray said modelling studies had shown that even a 50% reduced risk of contracting HIV would significantly drop the number of new infections in the country.Gray said: "Our first prize is to roll it [ the vaccine] out in a school-based programme..... We think the most  bang for your buck is to target young girls before they sexually debut and create a five- year blanket protection for them as they ….navigate the blessers of country."Gray said: "A vaccine is the ultimate female empowerment technology. You put it in a girl's arm and you get protection  in their vagina."Scientists have been searching for a prevention method to help South African young women who at huge risk of HIV.Men can get circumcised to reduce their risk of getting HIV by 60% and often have the choice on whether to use a condom or not.  Scientists are cautiously optimistic the vaccine will come to market, because when it was first used in a trial in Thailand it reduced the risk of contracting HIV by  60%  for the first year after use.This waned to 31% protection after three years in the Thai people.The vaccine being tested in South Africa in November has been boosted to be stronger and last longer than in Thailand.Initial test results on 100 South Africans showed it worked  better than expected - which is giving scientists optimism they may have something to protect women in a few years time...