AIDS Action Unveils "The Virtual Vaccine"

Contact: media@aidsaction.org or call: 202-986-1300

Washington, D.C. -- At the 1998 State of AIDS Forum today, AIDS Action unveiled "The Virtual Vaccine," a ten point plan to reinvigorate the national commitment to HIV prevention. AIDS Action released the plan in response to increased HIV infection rates and flat federal funding for prevention programs.

"While HIV infection rates race ahead, national leadership is standing in place," said Daniel Zingale, AIDS Action's executive director. "If we had a medical vaccine, forces would be mobilized to deploy it. Today we have a virtual vaccine, prevention, and those forces are paralyzed."

During roughly the same two years during which HIV infection rates have increased, federal prevention funding has remained flat, and no bold prevention initiatives have been proposed by the Clinton Administration.

Included in AIDS Action's "Virtual Vaccine" plan are a twenty-five percent increase in funding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, treatment on request to help stem the twin epidemics of substance abuse and AIDS, a national effort for better access to rapid HIV testing and creation of a Web site featuring anonymous E-mail, prevention counselors and a national testing referral database.

AIDS Action also called on the major television networks to allow condoms ads on programs rated "S" for sexual content under the new television rating system.

"Networks that sensationalize sex on TV have a responsibility to portray the reality of sex, not just the fantasy," added Zingale. "Let's put the V-chip to use in fighting AIDS, not just violence."

AIDS Action also recalled former Surgeon General Koop's AIDS mailing to all American households in 1987 by advocating a similarly ambitious effort to reach African-American and Latino communities that are now at the epicenter of the epidemic.

AIDS Action's 1998 State of AIDS Forum focused on a new national dynamic for HIV prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as national and local leaders in the fight against AIDS participated at the Forum, which was held at the National Press Club.

- Go to The Ten Point Plan -