When is National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day?
May 18th is National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.
What is National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day?
The immune system acts like the body’s National Guard. It fights anything that gets past natural barriers like the skin. HIV attacks this system though, crippling its ability to fight the billions of germs we encounter every day. National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day raises a battle cry against HIV and promotes the need for an effective vaccine.
The development of an effective HIV vaccine is challenging. For one thing, HIV mutates rapidly. And while most other vaccines mimic the immune responses of recovered patients, there is no case of an HIV patient whose immune system learned to defeat HIV. Many other vaccines also use live, weakened viruses, but that method is too dangerous with HIV.
New HIV infections occur around the world faster than doctors can treat it. An HIV vaccine would not only help prevent HIV though. It could also treat the infection in existing patients.
HIV meds are expensive. On top of that, some HIV victims develop drug resistance and have to change their medication regimen. A vaccine could solve these problems, so National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day campaign for HIV vaccine research.
Facts about National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day!
- More than 1.1 million Americans are infected with HIV.
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiecy Virus) may eventually cause AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
- The first case of AIDS in the U.S. was in June of 1981, though at the time it was not recognized as such.
- Treatment for HIV and AIDS has improved greatly in recent years, but treatment is expensive, frustrating, and no substitute for prevention.
How to celebrate National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day:
Educate yourself on the subject of HIV and AIDS. Learn about risk factors and high-risk groups. Then support HIV vaccine research.
What’s the hashtag for National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day?
Use #HIVVaccineAwarenessDay on social media to spread the word about HIV vaccine research.