FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
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CONTACT:
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Bill
Barker
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Tuesday, May 18, 2004
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(202) 419-3420
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HIV/AIDS Vaccine Awareness Day is May 18!
Advocates for Youth Asks for Help from Those at Highest
Risk—African
Americans and Latinos
WASHINGTON, DC (May 18, 2004) James Wagoner, President of
Advocates for Youth, marked HIV Vaccine
Awareness Day with a call to action for
all those hoping to stem the spread of HIV.
"It's time to act," said Wagoner. "It's
also time to realize that there is real hope for finding
a vaccine to prevent further spread of the deadly HIV virus."
"Today, on HIV Vaccine Awareness
Day, communities around the
world are coming together to provide a platform from which
to speak, support,
and educate one another about the value of HIV vaccine research,
the commitment to find vaccines that work, and the advances
that are being
made in the field of HIV vaccine research," continued Wagoner.
Especially
hard-hit by the HIV virus are African Americans and Latinos. While people
of color are overrepresented among HIV/AIDS cases in the
United States, they are underrepresented in HIV vaccine trials.
There are many reasons for this, but one fact remains clear: when we
find a
vaccine we will want to be able to show that it works for
everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity or gender. To accomplish
this, all communities
must be involved in the search for a vaccine.
"Currently, there is no vaccine for HIV, and HIV
Vaccine Awareness Day provides us with an opportunity to stand together against
the AIDS pandemic, by acknowledging and supporting the people
and the progress
we have made, so far, in the work for a vaccine to prevent
HIV infection," concluded
Wagoner, "and an opportunity to see a vision of a world without
AIDS—a world with real hope."
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Advocates for Youth is a national, nonprofit organization
that creates programs and supports policies that help
young people make safe, responsible decisions about their
sexual and reproductive health.
Note to Editors and Producers: For more information or to set up an
interview with adolescent sexuality experts, please contact Bill Barker
at (202) 419-3420.
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