It's not just that. People do develop neutralizing antibodies against HIV.

HIV, like other retroviruses, embedds itself in the cell DNA.

Some cells remain dormant for weeks and then start producing virions.

So the other problem with HIV, even if it didn't attack immune cells, is the hidden virus reservoir, I guess, just like other incurable viruses, like herpes and some hepatitis.

CRISPR can edit herpes simplex virus out of cells, so maybe it can do the same for HIV.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/11/18/194889...

Wow, thanks, that's really interesting!

Right but if you're vaccinated, you'd hope the immune system could attack HIV before it could take hold.

I really don't know enough about immunology to answer that -- but I presume most neutralizing antibodies wane over time.

If you take antiretrovirals you're very unlikely to become infected with HIV, even if you take it after initial exposure (but do your own research on that), but as soon as you stop, you lose that protection -- same with antibodies (not sure how a vaccine would help T-cell immunity if HIV infects T-cells).