HVAD 2020: Unprecedented Action, Continued Urgency

May 12, 2020
 
Dear Advocate,
 
This HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), May 18, 2020, is like no other before. HIV and COVID-19 each present a vivid picture of the need for the vaccine enterprise. A durable, sustainable end to any epidemic depends on a vaccine. HVAD is a day to call attention to the still-urgent need for an HIV vaccine, take stock of progress, recognize the incalculable contributions of trial participants and researchers—and, this year, to explain how work in HIV has created the foundation for the unprecedented speed of COVID-19 vaccine development. Looking to the future, this HVAD also presents an opportunity to advocate for the global capacity and collaboration needed for the next epidemic.
 
AVAC is proud to share our dedicated page on HVAD 2020, featuring a toolkit and details on related webinars to support advocacy and action, including:

• Key Messages: Frames priorities and unique opportunities for vaccine advocacy for HIV, COVID-19 and future epidemics.
  • Full: This complete set of messages provides more detail and background on priority messages.
  • Short: The short form of key messages distills priorities into a curated set of quick and easy-to-use statements.

• Social Media Package: Draft messages and images we hope you’ll use to extend the reach of our collective messaging this HVAD.
• HIV Vaccines, An Introductory Factsheet: Basic information on concepts and trials in vaccine research.

As part of the HVAD programming at AVAC, we have more rolling out in the days to come:  

• This Wednesday, May 13, we are hosting a webinar with Science Magazine’s Jon Cohen. Jon will talk about the fast-growing pipeline of vaccine candidates for COVID-19, how COVID-19 research is evolving and building on HIV vaccine research and more! Register here.
• On Thursday, May 14, we're launching our next episode of the AVAC podcast Px Pulse—looking at the intersection of HIV and COVID-19 with a special focus on vaccine development.
• On Monday, May 18, watch for a suite of infographics and our new report, 5Ps to Watch: A Look at the Process, Platforms, Partnerships, Pounds (and Rands and Euros and Dollars), and Participatory Practices—each of these “Ps” must be done right in response to HIV, COVID-19 and the epidemics of the future.

We hope these tools will help your advocacy this HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. As advocates and researchers, donors and activists, we all know an HIV vaccine is imperative to end the epidemic, now more than ever.  
 
Best,
AVAC