HIV Vaccine Awareness Day

HIV Vaccine Awareness (HVA) Day is commemorated every year on the 18^th of May. It is internationally recognized as a day of raising awareness of the continued need for a vaccine in the fight against the HIV epidemic. The purpose is to #EndNewInfections and #InvestinHIVPreventionResearch.

Moreover, on this day, communities acknowledge all those working towards a vaccine for HIV. AIDS is still life-threatening and thousands across the globe are losing their loved ones due to the epidemic, therefore, the need for a vaccine.

The Global HIV strategy is aimed at ending HIV by 2030 by achieving zero new HIV infections, zero HIV-related deaths, and zero HIV stigma. To achieve the set goal, the development of an HIV vaccine is one major task that is at hand.

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic proved the power of collaboration in the development of vaccines to combat the effects of the Coronavirus. This is the same effort and collaboration required around the globe to invest in the development of the HIV vaccine.

There are four Ps that have been highlighted as essential in the development of an HIV vaccine. Click here to learn more about the four Ps.

As research continues to advance towards the development of an HIV vaccine, communities should continue being informed and educated about the current HIV Prevention methods available and those in the pipeline such as Oral PrEP (click here), Vaginal Ring (click here), and the injectable Cabotegravir (click here).