HIV Vaccine Awareness Day

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is celebrated on May 18. This day is celebrated for those who have been taking continuous efforts for finding out the effective and safe HIV vaccine. These include community members, thousands of volunteers, health professionals and scientists. The intention behind the celebration of the day is to say thanks to all these people. The other reason is that to educate our communities about the significance of Preventive HIV vaccine research. On this day, community activities and media events are organized around the country.

Most of the people, who are HIV infected, sought the antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS. However, still the number of HIV infected people is increasing day by day. So, the treatment is not enough for preventing the transmission of HIV. There should some other solid options like HIV vaccine that will help to control the diseases. Vaccines have been proved as the most effective means that has eradicated the infectious diseases. They help to prevent the illness, death and disability. Moreover, they are cost effective and easily accusable. NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) that is the part of National Institutes of Health has been researching on the development of HIV vaccine for more than twenty years. HIV Vaccine Awareness Day has been inspiring the volunteers, health workers and scientists, who have been working for development of HIV vaccine. This day actually states the feeling of gratefulness for these people who are taking pains to develop HIV vaccine. It is nothing but salutation to these people, who have been a major part of this research. It is because of the efforts of these people, we can confront the challenge of HIV and can defeat it.

Significant progress has been done in this field. The example of it is a major clinical trial in Thailand gave us the indication of the progress towards the development of HIV vaccine. This experimental vaccine can protect some people against HIV infection. There were 16,000 volunteers who took part in this clinical trial. The experiment on these people showed that the HIV vaccine is 31% effective in preventing HIV. Though it is not a remarkable progress, but it gives us hope that we can defeat the disease. The main concern is to study now that how the vaccine prevents HIV infection in an individual. Thailand clinical trial showed the power and provided answers to the scientist regarding HIV. However, such kinds of trials are possible only through collaborative work of nongovernmental organizations, federal organization and private sectors. NIAID carries on following focused clinical HIV vaccine research through such kinds of partnerships.

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day encourages those people who are participating in HIV vaccine development programme and take efforts for developing the HIV vaccine for fighting the deadly disease that is HIV/AIDS. In fact, we say thanks to these people for their active participation for saving the human race from HIV that has been the biggest threat for human beings.