The Turks and Caicos joins the rest of the world in observing AIDS Vaccine Awareness Day which is observed on the 18th of May each year; there remains an urgent need to find an AIDS vaccine. We know that it is possible to begin to control the HIV epidemic using existing interventions, but a vaccine will be a critical component of the long-term strategy to end the AIDS epidemic.
· There has been dramatic success in increasing access to HIV treatment, care and existing prevention options, and these efforts together are starting to reduce HIV incidence and mortality—but new interventions are needed to make a lasting, decisive impact on the epidemic.
· While we work to ensure broader access to HIV testing and treatment as well as existing HIV prevention options, we must to continue to look for additional ways to prevent HIV, including a vaccine.
· Even a partially effective vaccine would help to sustain the impact of expanded access to treatment and existing prevention options.
The road to an AIDS vaccine is not easy. Vaccine development can be a slow, iterative process. But after 30 years of the HIV epidemic, researchers believe we’re closer to a vaccine than we ever have been.
· The AIDS vaccine pipeline is increasingly diverse. More than 30 AIDS vaccine clinical trials are underway, testing a variety of candidates and vaccine concepts. However, most are early stage trials (phase I and II) testing for safety and immune responses; there are no ongoing efficacy trials.
· The current challenge is to continue moving promising strategies forward without delay. Researchers urgently need to develop a clear, prioritized plan for managing the pipeline of vaccine candidates in order to prevent duplication and to accelerate study of the most promising products (AVAC 2014).
The Ministry of Health and Human Services and the National HIV Prevention Unit wishes to thank the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, advocates, policy makers and scientists who are working together to find a safe and effective AIDS vaccine.
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