HIV Vaccine Awareness Day

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is observed every year on May 18 and commemorates U.S. President Bill Clinton’s 1997 declaration that, “only a truly effective, preventive HIV vaccine can limit and eventually eliminate the threat of AIDS.” It recognizes the many volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists working together to develop a vaccine to prevent HIV. It is also an opportunity to educate communities about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research. A safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine would play an essential role in ensuring the end of the HIV pandemic.

One prevention tool that has remained elusive is finding a vaccine against HIV. At the end of August 2021, Johnson & Johnson announced that an experimental HIV vaccine—a 15-year effort—offered no protection against HIV acquisition. However, there continues to be ongoing efforts to develop a vaccine against HIV. Moderna, Inc., is currently testing an HIV vaccine using the same messenger RNA vaccine technology that proved safe and effective against the coronavirus. A Phase 1 clinical trial began in November 2021.

To learn more, read the HIVinfo fact sheets What is a Preventive HIV Vaccine? and What is a Therapeutic HIV Vaccine?

Browse the links on this page to learn more about HIV Vaccine Awareness Day and HIV vaccine research.

The U.S. Government observes HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.