| r of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day next month, we | | | | vaccines will be needed to treat people already |
| are highlighting the need for a vaccine, and the | | | | infected with HIV. A therapeutic vaccine is one that |
| continuing efforts of thousands of volunteers, | | | | is researched for the treatment of people with HIV |
| community members, health professionals and | | | | or AIDS. |
| scientists who work every day to find one that is | | | | There are three phases an HIV vaccine must go |
| safe and effective. To all those dedicated people, we | | | | through before it can be approved by the Food and |
| want to say thank you! | | | | Drug Administration. Phase I includes testing on a |
| A preventative HIV vaccine is a substance that | | | | small number of healthy HIV negative people. During |
| teaches the body’s immune system to | | | | this phase, volunteers are given different amounts of |
| recognize and protect itself against HIV. Vaccines | | | | the vaccine. Phase I can last between 12 and 18 |
| currently under development are created from | | | | months. Phase II can last up to two years, and |
| man-made materials that cannot cause HIV. This is | | | | includes hundreds of HIV negative volunteers who |
| unlike other vaccines, which uses a small amount of | | | | test the safety and immune responses of the |
| the disease to teach your body to be immune. | | | | vaccine. The final phasePhase IIIincludes |
| Supporters of the HIV vaccine hope for several | | | | thousands of HIV negative volunteers and can last |
| outcomes of the research. The goals include | | | | between three and four years. |
| preventing infection in most men and women living | | | | An effective HIV vaccine is one of the best |
| with HIV/AIDS; preparing a person’s immune | | | | long-term solutions to stopping the epidemic spread |
| system to block continued infection and eliminate the | | | | of AIDS. The vaccine cannot be developed fast |
| HIV virus; and delaying or preventing the onset of | | | | enough! Nearly 25 million people have died from AIDS |
| AIDS. | | | | worldwide. An estimated 40 million people are living |
| The goal is to create a vaccine that is 100 percent | | | | with AIDS and approximately 14,000 people are |
| effective in preventing infection in everyone, but | | | | infected every hour. Even more concerning, |
| even a partially effective vaccine will also make a | | | | approximately 13 million children who are 15 years of |
| great difference. Creating a partially effective vaccine | | | | age and younger have lost one or both parents to |
| will stop the disease in a portion of the population, | | | | AIDS. This is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. |
| thereby decreasing the number of people able to | | | | There is no cure for AIDS, so the continued push to |
| spread HIV to others. | | | | find a vaccine is crucial. The availability of |
| There are two kinds of HIV vaccines currently being | | | | anti-retroviral therapy can dramatically decrease AIDS |
| researched — therapeutic and preventative. A | | | | related deaths; however, the regimen is complex and |
| preventative vaccine is given to HIV negative people. | | | | costly. Often it can have serious side effects on the |
| It's designed to stop infection and control the spread | | | | patient’s health. Finding a working HIV vaccine |
| of HIV. It does not cure AIDS. Scientists believe that | | | | will save millions of lives, much like the polio vaccine |
| much like current HIV/AIDS treatments, multiple | | | | did so many years ago. |