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AIDS Action Council Recognizes National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, May 18, 2010.

Date: 
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

May 18 marks HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. This day provides AIDS Action the opportunity to thank the scientists, community educators, advocates, and the many thousands of clinical trial volunteers around the world for their efforts to continue and advance HIV vaccine research. This year's HIV Vaccine Awareness Day comes a few weeks before the beginning of the 30th year of what we now know as the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. The devastating toll that HIV/AIDS has had on our country and countries worldwide should prompt all of us to use the opportunity of this awareness day to renew support for the research to develop a safe and effective HIV vaccine.

 
Over the past year, notable progress has been made in HIV vaccine research. In late 2009 the results of one of the largest clinical trials, conducted in Thailand, demonstrated for the first time that an experimental vaccine can protect some people from HIV infection. At 31%, the effectiveness of the experimental vaccine was modest. 
 
However, the results have given researchers the first clear sign that a safe and effective HIV vaccine is possible. Advances in basic research have resulted in identifying new, experimental candidates for a possible vaccine. New clinical trials, such as the HVTN 505 Vaccine Study, are getting underway. These achievements enable us to recognize this 2010 HIV Vaccine Awareness Day with renewed hope and a strengthened commitment to support the needed research to build upon these promising developments.
 
While we recognize the importance of a safe and effective HIV vaccine to ending the spread of HIV infection and ending the progression of HIV disease, we also know that there likely will never be a single solution to stopping HIV and AIDS. We can and should use HIV Vaccine Awareness Day as an opportunity to renew our commitment to comprehensive HIV prevention research. A safe and effective HIV vaccine should be joined by multiple prevention tools, including safe and effective vaginal and rectal microbicides, antiretroviral drugs used as pre-exposure prophylaxis, universal access to voluntary HIV testing and linkage to affordable care, expanded behavioral interventions, and interventions that address the structural and social determinants of HIV infection and disease.
 
AIDS Action is a national partner in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) HIV Vaccine Research Education Initiative. We join our fellow national partners and the initiative's local partners across the country in recognizing
 
May 18 as National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. The hope that drives the possibility of a world without AIDS is alive and strong. Let all of us work together to make that world a reality.   For more information on
HIV vaccine research from NIAID's bethegeneration campaign go to bethegeneration.nih.gov