May 4, 2021
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is just around the corner—May 18th! In preparation, AVAC hosted a webinar, HIV Vaccines in the Midst of COVID, on Thursday, May 13.
Expert researchers and advocates discussed major issues and advances in HIV vaccine R&D and the impacts of COVID-19 on vaccine research and delivery. The conversation to explored the lessons learned to date and how they serve as a warning, a model, and a body of evidence on the need for accelerated vaccine development and comprehensive strategies for equitable global access.
The moderated panel discussion included Barney Graham of the NIH Vaccine Research Center, who helped develop the mRNA vaccine technology; Pontiano Kaleebu of the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit who helps lead the PrEPVacc trial; Linda-Gail Bekker of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation who is involved in cutting-edge HIV vaccine research and COVID vaccine delivery; and Matthew Rose of Health GAP and Definate Nhamo of PZAT who deal with the wide range of issues of confidence in vaccine research AND delivery.
We hope you’ll enjoy this rich conversation and prepare to make the most of your advocacy around HIV Vaccine Awareness Day on May 18. Click here for recording and slides.
AVAC will be offering additional tools in the days to come, including infographics, key messages, a social media toolkit and more. These resources will help you make the case that the fastest, but still-faltering vaccine effort in history has demonstrated both what can be done and what must be done better in the global response to pandemics. Keep an eye on this space for the latest!