10th Annual HIV Vaccine Awareness Day

May 18, 2007 marks the 10th annual HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. This day recognizes and thanks volunteers, health providers, and scientists for providing their efforts in hope to find a safe and effective vaccine for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Today 40 million people are currently living with the HIV/AIDS infection and every day 11,000 people become newly infected. Last year in the United States alone 40,000 people became newly infected with HIV. Scientists believe that with the creation of an effective HIV vaccine, numerous possible outcomes may occur. These possible outcomes include:

• Preventing infection in many people
  
  
• Preparing a person’s immune system to block infection and eliminate the virus
  
  
• Delaying or preventing the onset of AIDS

A Call for Help

Developing a vaccine requires the support of communities, government, researchers, non-governmental organizations, volunteers, and individuals. We urge you to show your support for HIV Vaccine research.

Raising awareness and support for the study is essential in eliminating stigmas about HIV research. Here is how you can get involved:

• Wear a Red AIDS Ribbon in support - V for Vaccines and Victory!

• Let others know that you support HIV vaccine research
  
  
• Educate others about the need for an HIV vaccine
  
  
• Support vaccine trial volunteers and/or become a volunteer yourself
  
  

Individuals and communities who support vaccine research will take scientists one step closer in the successful development of HIV vaccines.

For more information on becoming a Vaccine Trial Volunteer, please visit the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at www.niaid.nih.gov/daids/vaccine/


Aneesa Lala
Secretary
The Anokhi Foundation