The Basics: HIV Prevention Vaccine Research

What is a vaccine?

A vaccine is a medical product designed to stimulate your body's immune system in order to prevent or control an infection. An effective preventive vaccine trains your immune system to fight off a particular microorganism so that it can't establish a serious infection or make you sick.

What is the difference between a preventive HIV vaccine and a therapeutic HIV vaccine?

Therapeutic HIV vaccines are designed to control HIV infection in people who are already HIV positive (see Therapeutic HIV Vaccines Fact Sheet). Preventive HIV vaccines are designed to protect HIV negative people from becoming infected or getting sick. This fact sheet focuses on preventive HIV vaccines.

Although there is currently no vaccine to prevent HIV, researchers are developing and testing potential HIV vaccines. The goal is to develop a vaccine that can protect people from HIV infection, or at least lessen the chance of getting HIV or AIDS should a person be exposed to the virus.

How does a preventive vaccine work?

When your body encounters a microorganism, your immune system mounts an attack on the invader. After the microorganism is defeated, your immune system continues to "remember" how to quickly beat the invader should it try to infect you again. A vaccine is designed to resemble a real microorganism. The vaccine trains your immune system to recognize and attack the real microorganism should you ever encounter it. If you've received an effective vaccine, your immune system will "remember" how to quickly attack and defeat a particular microorganism for many years.

Can an HIV vaccine give me HIV or AIDS?

The experimental HIV vaccines currently being studied in clinical trials do not contain any "real" HIV, and therefore cannot cause HIV or AIDS. However, some HIV vaccines in trials could prompt your body to produce antibodies against HIV. These HIV antibodies could cause you to test "positive" on a standard HIV test, even if you don't actually have HIV. Other tests are available that can distinguish between vaccinated and infected people. For more information about this issue, please visit http://www.hvtn.org/science/volunteerfaqs.html (click on "Will I test HIV-positive as a result of the vaccine?").

What are the different types of vaccine?

There are three main types of vaccines that are being studied for the prevention of HIV infection and AIDS:

• Subunit vaccines, also known as "component" or "protein" vaccines, contain only individual parts of HIV, rather than the whole virus. Instead of collecting these parts from the virus itself, the HIV subunits are made in the laboratory using genetic engineering techniques. These man-made subunits alone—without the rest of the virus—can prompt the body to produce an anti-HIV immune response, although that response may be too weak to actually protect against future HIV infection.

• Recombinant vector vaccines take advantage of non-HIV viruses that either don't cause disease in humans or have been deliberately weakened so that they can't cause disease. These weakened (attenuated) viruses are used as vectors, or carriers, to deliver copies of HIV genes into the cells of the body. Once inside cells, the body uses the instructions carried in the copies of HIV genes to produce HIV proteins. As with subunit vaccines, these HIV proteins can stimulate an anti-HIV immune response. Most of the recombinant vector vaccines for HIV deliver several HIV genes (but not the complete set) and may therefore create a stronger immune response. Some of the virus vectors being studied for HIV vaccines include ALVAC (a canarypox virus), MVA (a type of cowpox virus), VEE (a virus that normally infects horses), and adenovirus-5 (a human virus that doesn't usually cause serious disease) based vectors.

• DNA vaccines also introduce HIV genes into the body. Unlike recombinant vector vaccines, DNA vaccines do not rely on a virus vector. Instead, "naked" DNA containing HIV genes is injected directly into the body. Cells take up this DNA and use it to produce HIV proteins. As with subunit and recombinant vector vaccines, the HIV proteins trigger the body to produce an immune response against HIV.

Again, none of these vaccines contain real HIV or anything else that could cause HIV infection or AIDS.

What is a prime-boost vaccination strategy?

A single type of HIV vaccine may be used alone, or it may be used in combination with another type of HIV vaccine. One approach to combined HIV vaccination is called the prime-boost strategy. In this approach, administration of one type of HIV vaccine (such as a DNA vaccine) is followed by later administration of a second type of HIV vaccine (such as a recombinant vector vaccine). The goal of this approach is to stimulate different parts of the immune system and enhance the body's overall immune response to HIV.

How can I participate in a vaccine clinical trial?

Clinical trial volunteers are tremendously important in the effort to develop a preventive HIV vaccine. To find an HIV vaccine trial near you, contact AIDSinfo toll-free at 1–800–448–0440 to speak to an Information Specialist, who will help you locate trials in your area. You can also locate research sites using the AIDSinfo Vaccine Web page at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/Vaccines/.

Enrolling in a clinical trial isn’t the only way to help the HIV vaccine effort—there are other ways to participate. Consider serving on an HIV vaccine Community Advisory Board.Get involved with outreach and community education programs. Lobby your elected officials to support HIV vaccine research and development. Or volunteer in other HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and support efforts—all are valuable ways to contribute.

For more information about HIV vaccines:

http://www.vrc.nih.gov/VRC/
http://www.hvtn.org/
Or contact your doctor or an AIDSinfo Health Information Specialist at 1–800–448–0440 or http://aidsinfo.nih.gov.

Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:

Antibody: a protein produced by the body's immune system that recognizes and fights infectious organisms and other foreign substances that enter the body. Each antibody is specific to a particular piece of an infectious organism or other foreign substance.

Clinical trial: a scientifically designed study testing the safety and effectiveness of a medication or other treatment in human volunteers.

Gene: a short segment of DNA or RNA that acts as a blueprint for building a specific protein.

Genetic engineering: a laboratory technique that can produce custom-made proteins for use as drugs and vaccines.

Microorganisms: small life forms that can be seen only through a microscope, including bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and fungi.

Vector: a harmless virus or bacteria used as a vaccine carrier to deliver pieces of a disease-causing organism (such as HIV) into the body's cells.

A Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Reviewed May 2006

LISTEN:

Join us December 4th for Listen: Gay Men in Their Twenties Talk About Their Lives, Their Futures, and The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in DC

The Department of Health estimates that since 2001, young men who have sex with men ages 13-24 in the District of Columbia experienced a 900% increase of reported HIV infection compared to the previous five year period. Despite these increases, only half of all young adults under 25 are aware of their HIV status or have actively sought an HIV Test.

How can we best support young gay, bisexual, and transgender men who are HIV positive? How do we fight the secrecy and the stigma? How do we prevent new infections? Join us for a frank conversation with a panel of gay, bi, and trans men in their twenties as we tackle these important questions.

Thursday, December 4th
7:00 PM
HRC Equality Center
1640 Rhode Island Ave NW

Moderated by Zack Rosen, The New Gay
Opening Remarks: Tyrone Hanely, SMYAL
Closing Remarks: Brian Watson, Ryan White Planning Council

Sponsored by the DC Crystal Meth Working Group, The DC Center, and SMYAL. This program is funded in whole or in part, by the Government of the District of Columbia, Department of Health.

At-Large City Council Candidates on HIV/AIDS

On Saturday October 25th, Fight HIV in DC was a co-sponsor of an HIV/AIDS Forum with At-Large City Council Candidates. Participants included Carol Schwartz, Michael Brown, Mark Long, David Schwartzman, Patrick Mara, and Kwame Brown.

All the candidates agreed that with 1 in 20 people in the District living with HIV or AIDS, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a top priority. We asked the city council candidates to briefly tell us what they would do to address HIV/AIDS in the District. Their unedited responses are collected in the youtube video below. Take time to learn about all the candidates, and please be sure to vote on November 4th.

Spotlight: HIV/AIDs and Women in DC

In the District of Columbia, women accounted for approximately one-third of all newly reported HIV/AIDS cases from 2001-2006. Black women accounted for the majority - 9 out of 10 - of all reported HIV/AIDS cases among women from 2001-2006.

Find out more. To view the squidoo page on Women and HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia, click here.

March 10th marks National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day which seeks to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of women and girls. For more information on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, click here.

The Basics: Therapeutic HIV Vaccine Research

What is a vaccine?

A vaccine is a medical product designed to stimulate your body's immune system in order to prevent or control an infection. An effective vaccine trains your immune
system to fight a particular microorganism so that it can't make you sick.

Although there are currently no vaccines to prevent or treat HIV, researchers are developing and testing potential HIV vaccines. HIV vaccines designed to prevent HIV infection in HIV negative people are called preventive vaccines (see Preventive HIV Vaccines Fact Sheet). HIV vaccines designed to help control HIV infection in people who are already HIV positive are called therapeutic vaccines. This fact sheet focuses on therapeutic HIV vaccines.

What is a therapeutic HIV vaccine?

A therapeutic HIV vaccine (also known as a treatment vaccine) is a vaccine used in the treatment of an HIV infected person. Therapeutic HIV vaccines are designed to boost the body's immune response to HIV in order to better control the infection. Currently, there are no therapeutic HIV vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, therapeutic HIV vaccines are being tested in clinical trials to find out if they are safe and effective in treating people with HIV.

Researchers hope that if therapeutic vaccines are able to strengthen the body's natural anti-HIV immune response, people with HIV will not have to rely exclusively on the antiretroviral drugs now used to treat HIV infection. Currently, antiretroviral drugs must be taken for life, and some cause serious side effects. All experimental therapeutic HIV vaccines are in very early stages of research, and no therapeutic vaccine is anticipated to be available to the general public for many years, if at all.

Will a therapeutic HIV vaccine be able to cure HIV?

Probably not. If therapeutic vaccines are effective, they may be able to help keep HIV infection under control. However, most researchers do not think therapeutic HIV vaccines will be able to completely eliminate HIV infection, because the virus hides in certain cells of the body where it can last for decades.

Will a therapeutic vaccine rule out the need for antiretroviral drugs?

Even an effective therapeutic HIV vaccine probably won't be able to replace antiretroviral drugs entirely. At best, a therapeutic HIV vaccine may help control HIV infection and keep people healthy while minimizing the need for antiretroviral drugs.

Who is eligible to receive a therapeutic vaccine?

Therapeutic vaccines are designed specifically for HIV positive people who have healthy immune systems. Therapeutic vaccine recipients must have strong immune systems for the vaccine to generate an effective anti-HIV immune response. Clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines are recruiting volunteers with CD4 counts greater than 250 cells/mm³, and most studies require a CD4 count greater than 350 cells/mm³. People with weaker immune systems may be unable to produce a good immune response to a therapeutic HIV vaccine, and are therefore not eligible for these trials. Most trials require that therapeutic vaccine recipients continue taking antiretroviral drugs during the study.

What are the side effects of therapeutic vaccines?

Because testing is ongoing, not all of the side effects of therapeutic vaccines are known. However, side effects observed so far in clinical trials have been similar to the side effects that occur with FDA-approved vaccines. These side effects include:

• Soreness, swelling, redness, or pain at the site of injection
• Mild flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle pain or weakness, nausea, headache, and dizziness)

I am interested in participating in a therapeutic HIV vaccine trial. How do I find a study near me?

Contact AIDSinfo toll-free at 1–800–448–0440 to speak to a Health Information Specialist, who will help you locate therapeutic vaccine trials in your area. You
can also locate research sites using the AIDSinfo Vaccine Web page at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/Vaccines On the left side of the screen, under "Therapeutic AIDS Vaccine Trials," click "New and Recruiting Trials" for a complete list of currently recruiting therapeutic HIV Vaccine studies.

Enrolling in a clinical trial isn’t the only way to help the therapeutic HIV vaccine effort—there are other ways to participate. Consider serving on an Institutional Review Board overseeing therapeutic HIV vaccine trials. Lobby your elected officials to support therapeutic HIV vaccine research and development. Or volunteer in other HIV/AIDS treatment and support efforts—all are valuable ways to contribute.

For more information about HIV vaccines:
Contact your doctor or an AIDSinfo Health Information Specialist at 1–800–448–0440 or http://aidsinfo.nih.gov.

Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:

Antiretroviral: a medication that interferes with replication of retroviruses. HIV is a retrovirus. CD4 Count: CD4 cells, also called T cells or CD4⁺ T cells, are white blood cells that fight infection. HIV destroys CD4 cells, making it harder for your body to fight infections. A CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood.

Clinical trial: a scientifically designed study testing the safety and effectiveness of a medication or other treatment in human volunteers.

Microorganisms: small life forms that can be seen only through a microscope, including bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and fungi.

A Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Facts on Smoking & HIV

The DC Center has released a new fact sheet on Smoking and HIV/AIDS. The fact sheet is available at www.OutToQuit.org. You can also click here to download the fact sheet. The following is the summary statement from the fact sheet:

The DC Department of Health estimates that one in twenty DC residents is living with HIV or AIDS. That number is even higher among older District residents and other at-risk populations.

With proper treatment, many people living with HIV/AIDS in the District are living longer, more productive lives, but smoking poses a great threat to their long-term health and well-being.

We’ve known for a long time how dangerous smoking and second hand smoke are for the entire community. The American Cancer Society reports that “each year about 438,000 people in the United States die from illnesses related to cigarette smoking. Cigarettes kill more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs combined.”

The impact of smoking is far greater, however, for people living with HIV/AIDS. Smoking weakens the immune system, and makes it even harder to fight off opportunistic infections associated with HIV. Smoking also increases the risk of HIV-associated malignancies and other cancers found among people living with HIV/AIDS. Further, HIV positive individuals who are at greater risk for heart disease because of lypodystrophy, significantly compound that risk by smoking.
Smoking cessation services are a crucial component of long term HIV/AIDS care. Residents of the District of Columbia can access free support to quit smoking by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. DC residents who call this number can get free smoking cessation aids like nicotine gum or patches.

Want to get all the facts? download the fact sheet here.

Spotlight: HIV/AIDS and African Americans in Washington DC

One of the striking featurs of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the District of Columbia is the disproportionate impact of the disease by race and ethnicity. Although African Americans comprised 57% of District residents in 2006, they accounted for 81% of all new reports of HIV cases and all living AIDS cases.

Find out more. To see the squidoo page on HIV/AIDS and African Americans in Washington, DC click here

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information Day (NBHAAD). This annual observance day was created to raise awareness among African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on African American communities. To find out more about Natioal Blck HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, click here.

Local HIV/AIDS Advocates Featured in CBS News Story

Local HIV/AIDS Advocates are featured in this CBS News article on HIV/AIDS and the Presidential Candidates. Below is an excerpt of the transcript followed by a video clip of the full article

The CDC estimates that one in 20 people living in Washington, D.C., is HIV positive. Astoundingly, in the capital of the world's wealthiest country, the incidence of HIV/AIDS is two-and-a-half times that of Port au Prince, the capital of Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries.

C. Russell, 31, is HIV-positive, having been diagnosed nine years ago after having unprotected sex.

"Eighty percent of the HIV cases in this city - your city - are in blacks," Gupta said.

"They are," Russell said.

"What is going on here?" Gupta said.

"Apathy in our community. Apathy possibly maybe from the government," he said. "People not going and getting tested and getting treatment once they're diagnosed."

Luckily, Russell's been able to keep the virus at bay, without the need for medication. But if he did get sick, care and treatment costs over his lifetime could easily top $275,000.

"If it came to that, I'd want to know that I'd be taken care of. I'd want to know that I'd be able to get health care," he said.

But it's not just men.

The incidence rate for black women like Danielle, who is 42 and HIV-positive, is nearly 15 times that of whites - making AIDS a leading killer of African-American women ages 25 to 34.

Danielle contracted HIV through sexual intercourse 15 years ago, and passed the virus onto one of her five children during pregnancy.

"A lot of people are in the mindset that well, because we have medication we can take, it's OK if I become HIV positive," she said.

But Danielle has no health insurance. So she'll be in trouble should she ever develop AIDS.

"You couldn't get all the medications that you need, you couldn't get the sub-specialty care that you need. What would happen to someone like you?" Gupta said.

"I'd probably get sicker. And possibly even die," she said.

The Basics: Starting Anti-HIV Medications

I am HIV positive. Do I need to take anti-HIV medications?

You do not necessarily need to take anti-HIV (also called antiretroviral) medications just because you are HIV positive. You and your doctor will determine the best time to start treatment. When to take anti-HIV medications depends on your overall health, the amount of virus in your blood (viral load), and how well your immune system is working.

How will I know when to start anti-HIV medications?

You should start treatment if:
• you are experiencing severe symptoms of HIV infection or have been diagnosed with AIDS
• your CD4 count is 350 cells/mm³ or less (especially if 200 cells/mm³ or less)
• you are pregnant
• you have HIV-related kidney disease
• you are being treated for hepatitis B

If anti-HIV medications can help me stay healthy, why wait to start treatment?
Once you begin treatment, you may need to continue taking anti-HIV medications for the rest of your life.

Although newer anti-HIV medications are easier to take, starting treatment usually means a significant adjustment in your lifestyle. Some anti-HIV medications need to be taken several times a day at specific times and may require a change in the foods you eat, when you eat meals, and when you take other medications.

In addition to their desired effects, anti-HIV medications may have negative side effects, some of which are serious. If the virus is not suppressed completely, drug
resistance can develop. Side effects and drug resistance may limit your future treatment options.

What treatment is right for me?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides HIV treatment guidelines to doctors and patients. These guidelines recommend that you take a
combination of three or more medications from different classes (see Approved Medications to Treat HIV Infection Fact Sheet) in a regimen called Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). The guidelines list "preferred" HAART regimens. However, your regimen should be tailored to your needs. Factors to consider in selecting a treatment regimen include:

• your drug resistance testing results
• number of pills
• how often the pills must be taken
• if pills can be taken with or without food
• how the medications interact with one another
• other medications you take
• other diseases or conditions
• pregnancy

For more information:

Contact your doctor or an AIDSinfo Health Information Specialist at 1–800–448–0440 or http://aidsinfo.nih.gov.

Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the most severe form of HIV infection. HIV infected patients are diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4 count falls below 200 cells/mm3 or if they develop an AIDS-defining illness (an illness that is very unusual in someone who is not HIV positive).

Antiretroviral: a medication that interferes with replication of retroviruses. HIV is a retrovirus. CD4 count: CD4 cells, also called T cells or CD4⁺ T cells, are white blood cells that fight infection. HIV destroys CD4 cells, making it harder for your body to fight infections. A CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood.

Drug resistance testing: A laboratory test to determine if an individual's HIV strain is resistant to any anti-HIV medications. HIV can mutate (change form), resulting in HIV that cannot be controlled with certain medications.

Viral load: the amount of HIV in a sample of blood.

A Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents (available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov).

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Raises Awareness about Crystal Meth and HIV Among Latinos in Washington DC

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is hoping to raise awareness about the prevalence of crystal meth and HIV within the Latino community by unveiling a new website and outreach materials, the group announced today.

To commemorate National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, which is October 15, the DC Crystal Meth Working Group is debuting a Spanish version of its website. The site contains basic information about crystal meth, its effects and where to go to seek treatment or harm reduction services. The new Spanish language site can be found at www.hablemosdelcristal.org.

“This new website is part of our ongoing efforts to reach out to the Latino community,” said Michael Sessa, chairperson of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group. “We are still learning the extent of crystal meth use within this population, but to the extent that there may be use at all, we want to provide resources and referrals.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latino Americans and African-Americans continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Crystal meth use has been tied to an increase in HIV rates among some populations.

In addition to the new website, the DC Crystal Meth Working Group has transcribed its brochure and palm card into Spanish to reach more people within the community. On September 28, the group participated in Fiesta DC, a Latino cultural festival in Adams Morgan.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community and local organizations dedicated to providing information and resources that help people make informed choices about crystal meth. The group also collects data about crystal meth use and provides referral information for treatment and recovery. To learn more about the group visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

Spotlight: HIV/AIDS and Injection Drug Use in Washington DC

Injection drug use (IDU remains a significant risk factor for HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia. Though there has been a decline in the number of new HIV/AIDS cases attributed to IDU, the number of persons living with HIV/AIDS because of IDU has increased from 2001 to 2006. Also, IDU impacts black District disproportionately to other racial and ethnic groups.

Find out more. To see the squidoo page on HIV/AIDS and Injection Drug Use in Washington, DC click here

The Basics: Seeing an HIV Doctor

I am HIV positive. What kind of doctor do I need?

Your doctor (or other health care provider) should be experienced in treating HIV and AIDS. You may want to see an infectious disease specialist. You will need to work closely with your doctor to make informed decisions about your treatment, so it is important to find a doctor with whom you are comfortable.

What can I expect at the doctor's office?

Your doctor will ask you questions about your health, life style, conduct a physical exam, and order blood tests. This is a good time to ask your doctor questions. Write
down any questions you have and take them with you to your appointment.

Women should have a pregnancy test (see HIV During Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery, and After Birth Fact Sheet series) and a gynecologic examination with Pap smear.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You should ask your doctor about:
• Risks and benefits of HIV treatment
• Other diseases you may be at risk for
• How your lifestyle will change with HIV infection
• How you can avoid transmitting HIV to others
• How you can achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle

What tests will my doctor order?

It is very important to have a CD4 count and a viral load
test done at your first doctor's visit. You should also have
drug resistance testing. The results will provide a
baseline measurement for future tests.

• CD4count – CD4 cells, also called CD4+ T cells or CD4 lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. HIV destroys CD4 cells, weakening your body's immune system. A CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood.

• Viral load test – A viral load test measures the amount of HIV in a sample of blood. This test shows how well your immune system is controlling the virus. The two viral load tests commonly used for HIV are:
    • HIV RNA amplification (RT-PCR) test
    • Branched chain DNA (bDNA) test

• Drug resistance testing – Drug resistance testing determines if an individual's HIV strain is resistant to any anti-HIV medications. HIV can mutate (change form), resulting in HIV that cannot be controlled with certain medications.

To ensure accurate results, viral load testing should be done at two different times, by the same laboratory, using the same type of test. The results of different types of tests may differ.

Your doctor may also order:
• Complete blood count
• Bloodchemistryprofile(including liver and kidney function tests)
• Tests for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Tests for other infections, such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, or toxoplasmosis

Am I ready to begin HIV treatment?

Once you begin taking anti-HIV medications, you may need to continue taking them for the rest of your life. Deciding when or if to begin treatment depends on your health (see Starting Anti-HIV Medications Fact Sheet) and your readiness to follow a treatment regimen that may be complicated. You and your doctor should discuss your readiness to begin treatment as well as strategies to help you follow your treatment regimen (see What is Treatment Adherence and Adhering to a Regimen Fact Sheets).

If my doctor and I decide to delay treatment, will I need to have my CD4 count and viral load tested again?

Yes. HIV infected people who have not started anti-HIV medications should have a viral load test every 3 to 4 months and a CD4 count every 3 to 6 months. You and your doctor will use the test results to monitor your infection and to decide when to start treatment.

For more information:

Contact your doctor or an AIDSinfo Health Information Specialist at 1–800–448–0440 or http://aidsinfo.nih.gov.

Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:

Baseline: an initial measurement (such as CD4 count or viral load) made before starting therapy and used as a reference point to monitor your HIV infection.

Kidney function tests: blood and urine tests that determine if your kidneys are working properly.

Liver function tests (LFTs): tests that measure the blood levels of liver enzymes (proteins made and used by the liver) to determine if your liver is working properly.

A Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents (available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov).

New Poll Shows DC Parents Overwhelmingly Support HIV and Sex Education

A recent city-wide poll, sponsored by MTA and the DC Healthy Youth Coalition, demonstrates that parents in the District overwhelmingly want their children to receive comprehensive sex and HIV prevention education in school. The Zogby International Poll, which sampled 652 DC parents showed that parents were nearly unanimous (98%) in their concern about the rates of HIV and STDs in Washington DC. Almost all (93%) of the parents polled think that preventing HIV and unintended pregnancies begins with comprehensive sex education that includes information on refraining from sex.

While the majority of parents support comprehensive sex education, the District of Columbia still accepts abstinence-only until marriage funding. There is no scientific evidence that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—those that censor information about contraception—are effective in preventing HIV or teen pregnancy. Further, these messags are damaging to gay and lesbian youth.

A total of 22 states have rejected abstinence-only until marriage funding. While numerous youth organizations in DC have asked Mayor Adrian Fenty to reject this money, he has not yet done so.

Spotlight: HIV/AIDS and the Latino Community in Washington DC

HIV/AIDS impacts everyone in the District of Columbia, including the Latino Community. In 2006, Latinos comprised 8.2 percent of the District of Columbia population, and 4.9 percent of HIV/AIDS cases. Of course, this number may not show the entire picture because some latinos, particularly those in immigrant populations, may be less likely to get tested for HIV/AIDS.

Find out more about HIV/AIDS in the Latino Community. View the Squidoo page HIV/AIDS and Latinos in the District of Columbia.

October 15th is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, a day to talk about HIV/AIDS in the Latino Community. find out more.

Community Dialogue on HIV/AIDS with at-large City Council Candidates

Fight HIV in DC is proud to co-sponsor a Community Dialogue on HIV/AIDS with at-large City Council Candidates, taking place Saturday, Oct 25th at 1:00 PM at Greater DC Cares, 1725 I Street, NW.

The forum is co-sponsored by DC Fights Back, The DC Center, The Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association, and Metro Teen AIDS.

Join us for this important conversation on HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia and learn more about what the at-large City Council Candidates think about HIV/AIDS.

2008 AIDS Walk Washington: Tell Your Story

Share your story from AIDS Walk 2008. Here's how:

Flickr If you have a flicr account, it's easy to add your AIDS Walk Washington photos to our AIDS Walk Washington Flickr Group. It's free and easy to set up a flickr account, but if you prefer you can just e-mail me your flickr pics and I'll post them to the group for you.

YouTube You can also send me your videos, and I'll add them to our Fight HIV in DC You Tube Page

BloggerIf you'd like, you could also send me a blog post about AIDS Walk DC and I'll post it on the site.

This Sunday: HIV/AIDS over Fifty

The DC Center Elder Think Tank is proud to present the second program in our fall series, HIV/AIDS Over 50. Please join us Sunday October 5th, at The DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW Suite 350, starting at 2:00 PM.

HIV is a virus that does not discriminate. Nearly one in 10 District residents aged 55 and older have HIV or AIDS. From 2001-2006, 245 new cases of HIV were reported among District residents aged 55 and older. There was an overall increase of 21% in newly report cases over that period of time.

• Dr. Shannon Hader, DC Department of Health HIV/AIDS Administration, will discuss HIV prevention issues for those 50 and older.
• Dr. Linda Green, Prince George’s Hospital Center, will discuss HIV/AIDS treatment for those 50 and older.

These presentations will be followed by questions and discussion. Please join us and be part of this conversation. This event is free and open to the public.

download the flyer for this event