May 18, 2017
In 1987, the first HIV vaccine clinical trial opened at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Thirty years later research continues to realize the promise of safe and effective HIV vaccines. HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is an occasion to recognize and support the efforts of countless individuals and organizations—past and present—involved in HIV vaccine research.
HIV research includes studies of both preventive and therapeutic vaccines:
- Preventive HIV vaccines are intended to prevent HIV infection in people who are not infected with HIV. A safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine is key to ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
- Therapeutic HIV vaccines are designed to treat people who are infected with HIV. A safe and effective therapeutic HIV vaccine could prevent HIV from advancing to AIDS, replace daily use of HIV medicines, and help rid the body of HIV.
- To learn more, read the AIDSinfo fact sheets What is a Preventive HIV Vaccine? and What is a Therapeutic HIV Vaccine?