Most scientists involved in AIDS research believe that an HIV vaccine is further away than ever and some have admitted that effective immunization against the virus may never be possible, according to a survey conducted by The Independent released today. The poll follows a report by the Washington Post that at summit last month, U.S. government AIDS researchers made “an admission that almost no progress has been made in the search for an AIDS vaccine in the past 25 years and that something close to new start is necessary.” The government scientists announced that “more of their budget needs to be spent on basic lab research and less on testing the current crop of vaccines, none of which has proved useful in human trials.” In light of these failures and daunting prospects, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, pledged to re-evaluate the use of all $1.5 billion his agency spends on AIDS noting that “we are going to have to justify what we are doing.”
So what are these federal agencies doing to advance the prospects of an HIV vaccine that they can justify?
Next month, the National Institutes of Health will put aside basic research and redirect federal funding towards marketing campaigns and social events to recognize “HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.”
There is no HIV vaccine. The experts doubt that there will be a vaccine anytime soon and some scientists do not think that there will ever be possible, yet the federal government is paying to celebrate “HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.”
The federal government, in fact, has spent more than $2 million on annual “HIV Vaccine Awareness Day” events since 2001. Last year, federally sponsored “HIV Vaccine Awareness Day” activities have included a bar event in Seattle, WA, a picnic and bar night in Nashville, TN, a fashion show and reception in Jamaica Plain, MA, a film screening and dinner reception in Norcross, GA.
I guess we have become so desperate in the search for a vaccine, the search won’t be limited to labs or human subjects. Who knows what scientific discoveries could be unlocked at a bar or fashion show! But with your tax dollars, we will find out!
May 18th is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD). This annual observance is a day to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists who are working together to find a safe and effective HIV vaccine. It is also a day to educate our communities about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research.
In recognition of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, community activities and media events are being held around the country.
