HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD) 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. Held annually on May 18, the observance 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.”  

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) HIV research program, coordinated by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR), supports research to develop an effective HIV vaccine, as well as research on strategies to encourage people to receive an HIV vaccine when it is available. 

Learn more and access additional resources on the HIVinfo HVAD webpage.