Men Inspiring Hope: HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, May 18th

May 18th is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, a day for educating American communities about the ongoing search for a preventive HIV vaccine and for recognizing the efforts of thousands of clinical trial participants, scientists and health professionals who are committed to finding a safe and effective vaccine. On HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, we salute their efforts.

Although significant progress has been made in the search for a preventive HIV vaccine, a vaccine still does not exist. HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is an opportunity for all Americans, especially men who have sex with men (MSM), to learn more about vaccine research and support efforts to develop an HIV vaccine -- the world's best hope for ending the AIDS pandemic.

HIV/AIDS in Men Who Have Sex With Men

In the United States, self-identified MSM account for the largest number of people reported with AIDS each year, including approximately half of all cases to date.¹ Minority MSM are especially vulnerable to HIV. More than one-half of newly reported cases of HIV infection among Asian/Pacific Islanders or American Indian/Alaska Natives are MSM, while more than one in three new cases among Hispanics are MSM, and nearly one in three cases among African Americans are MSM.² AIDS has already claimed the lives of nearly 250,000 self-identified MSM in the United States.³

In the United States, an estimated 950,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS, and an estimated 40,000 people contract the virus each year.⁴ Worldwide, approximately 40 million people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS.⁵

The support of men is essential to bring about the end of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

"Hope for the Future"

The theme of this year's HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is "Hope for the future." More than 25,000 people have already volunteered for HIV vaccine studies.⁶ Currently, more than 30 HIV vaccine trial concepts are in various stages of testing or under development.⁷ A large-scale HIV vaccine trial, however, will require thousands more participants of all races and ethnicities, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds, to ensure that the vaccine is effective in all groups but especially those most affected. Achieving progress in the search for a preventive HIV vaccine -- and inspiring hope for the future in the fight against HIV/AIDS -- requires that individuals and communities work to break down stigma and dispel the myths about HIV vaccine research, support those who get involved in the research and promote a vision of the world without HIV/AIDS.

Show Your Support

For the third year in a row, people are encouraged to wear an upside-down red AIDS ribbon on HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. The upside-down ribbon forms a "V" for "vaccines," symbolizing advances in HIV vaccine research and the urgent need to stop the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day Events

For more information about HIV Vaccine Awareness Day and outreach activities planned for MSM and other communities, please contact the organizations on the "HIV Vaccine Awareness Day Activities" document located at www.niaid.nih.gov/newsroom/mayday/default.htm. Information about HIV vaccine research is available online at www.aidsinfo.nih.gov, www.vrc.nih.gov or www.hvtn.org. You may also call 1-800-HIV-0440 to request a free brochure (available in English and Spanish).

References

1. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report. Vol. 15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2003. www.cdc.gov/hiv/stats/2003SurveillanceReport.htm.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). 2004. www.unaids.org/bangkok2004/report.html
6. IAVI database of AIDS vaccines in human trials (last updated 2/28/2005). International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. www.iavireport.org/trialsdb/
7. "HVTN Fact Sheet, February 2004." HIV Vaccine Trials Network. 2004. www.hvtn.org/pressroom/hvtn_pdf/Feb_2004_HVTNFACTSHEET.pdf.