DichdoulaES (NAPSA)—The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at the end of 2006, more than 1.1 million adults and children were living with HIV in the United States. CDC also estimates that African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos and gay and bisexual menof all races continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. “These statistics tell us that access to comprehensive HIV care and treatment is needed now more than ever, and that new prevention tools, including a vaccine, are critical for combating HIV/AIDS,” says Margaret John- ston, Ph.D., assistant director for HIV/AIDS vaccines at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. “As long as HIV/AIDS continues to devastate communities across the U.S. and bethegeneration.nih.gov Whyis HIV vaccine research urgent? Today, more than 1.1 million people are living with HIVin the U.S. e Every year, an estimated 56,000 people becomeinfected with HIVin the U.S. e As the numberof peopleliving with HIV grows, so does the risk of HIV transmission to others. Historically, vaccines have been the most powertul weapon against infectiousdiseaseslike polio, measles and hepatitis B. vaccines being studied do not contain the actual HIV virus, so they cannot cause HIV infection. tinue to search for an effective HIV vaccine.” Discovering a successful HIV vaccine that works for all people can only be done with the enrollment of study volunteers from all races and ethnicities. Community involvement and education are ways an HIV vaccine might work—it could prevent HIV infection and/or reduce the severity of HIV-related disease once a person is infected. During the past 20 years, tens of thousands of volunteers have safely participated in HIV vaccine research. The HIV are underway to help people understand why HIV vaccine research is relevant to them and how they can help. To learn more about HIV vaccine research in the United States, please visit http://bethegeneration.nih.gov. around the world, we must con- There are at least two possible essential to the success of HIV vaccine research, and initiatives
