HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is observed each year on May 18th. This day is a day to spread awareness of the importance of HIV prevention- which includes a vaccine in the future. A vaccine along with HIV treatment and prevention would help achieve the goal of ending the HIV epidemic. This day is also a day to recognize all of the scientists, health professionals, volunteers and community members for their combined efforts to finding a safe and effective vaccine to prevent HIV.
While working through the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinations scientists have still been working on the development of the HIV vaccine. From the Journal of the International AIDS Society written by NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and his colleague Carl W. Dieffenbach, Ph.D. “We emphatically state that finding safe, effective and durable vaccines for HIV and COVID-19 are NIAID’s top priorities. The world must have both.”
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,
"One approach builds on information gleaned from the landmark RV144 study in Thailand, the only clinical trial to date to demonstrate efficacy, albeit modest, for an investigational HIV vaccine. However, the large-scale HVTN 702 clinical trial evaluating an updated version of the RV144 regimen among adults in South Africa was stopped in early 2020 when the regimen was found to be safe but ineffective at preventing HIV. This disappointing outcome may be attributable to differences between the HVTN 702 and RV144 study populations or to differences in the immune responses needed for protection against different global HIV subtypes, according to Drs. Fauci and Dieffenbach.
Another approach to an HIV vaccine is based on "mosaic" immunogens—vaccine components comprising elements from multiple HIV subtypes—that aim to induce immune responses against the wide variety of global HIV strains. Mosaic-based vaccine regimens are being evaluated in two late-stage clinical trials: Imbokodo (HPX2008/HVTN 705) and Mosaico (HPX3002/HVTN 706).
A third approach, still in preclinical studies, involves placing HIV genes into an unrelated carrier virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) to elicit a cell-based immune response. A monkey version of the CMV-based vaccine protected roughly 50% of animals from sustained infection with SIV, the simian form of HIV. Efforts are underway to adapt this vaccine platform for testing in humans."
While we await a future vaccine, Matthew 25 is committed to our prevention efforts, free HIV testing, condom distributions, education, providing PrEP, and pre and post counseling sessions; as well as providing HIV treatment to our current and future patients. At Matthew 25 we want to honor all of the scientists, volunteers, and health professionals for the passion and hard work that they put toward ending the HIV epidemic.
If you or someone you know doesn't know your HIV status, we want to get you tested! We do offer FREE and confidential HIV and Hepatitis C testing. We provide pre and post test counseling to support testing and make sure that testers have access to condoms, and other safe sex supplies.
We have 3 Kentucky locations: Henderson, Owensboro, and Bowling Green. We also have a location in Evansville, Indiana. Drive-Up Testing is also offered at all of our Kentucky locations.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free and confidential HIV test, please call (866) 607-6590. You can also email treed@matthew25clinic.org for more information!
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