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Developing and eventually delivering a safe, effective, affordable and accessible AIDS vaccine requires far more than science alone; it requires an environment where science can flourish, pay for its products and gain community acceptance for the benefits. And it depends on community participation and advocacy. Specific ways to contribute include:
- Host an "Ending AIDS" House Party
Whether it's a House Party in your living room for eight friends, a special meeting of your book club in the local library's community room, or a gathering of your workmates over a brown bag lunch, it's easy to organize a party, spread the word and work towards a world without AIDS. You can screen Ending AIDS: The Search for a Vaccine and discuss ways to support vaccine research. For help in planning your party, contact houseparty@endingaids.org, and we will send some basic suggestions and guidelines, as well as a "welcome" introduction and a step-by-step agenda that suggests how you might structure your event.
- Volunteer to be a study participant in a trial in your area
Hundreds of researchers around the world work everyday to find and develop an AIDS vaccine, but their work cannot move forward without the help of thousands more extraordinary men and women who volunteer for clinical trials. One way to help end the epidemic is to volunteer for an AIDS vaccine trial. For more information about vaccine trials around the world, please visit one of the sites below.
- Volunteer on a Community Advisory Board for a trial in your area
Community Advisory Boards (CABs) are a significant element of AIDS vaccine trials in both developed and developing countries. They are generally made up of no more than 20 people who serve as primary liaisons between the community and the trial researchers. Often a senior scientist or physician and/or other member of the trial staff will attend CAB meetings on a regular basis, a sign indicative of the CAB's importance in the trial process.
- Learn and teach
There are many organizations working to advance the search for an AIDS vaccine, and many of them provide excellent educational and information resources. You can check out the list at www.endingaids.org/links. You can also help spread the word!
- Participate in outreach and community education programs on AIDS vaccine issues
The development of AIDS vaccines depends on community participation and advocacy. It is important that the public and communities most immediately affected by the epidemic are aware of efforts to develop vaccines and the potential public health benefit vaccines will hopefully offer one day. It is also important to ensure community participation in vaccine research goes beyond volunteering as clinical trial participants. Informed and involved communities not only make vaccine research possible, they can speed up the process by advocating for wider public support, governmental commitment and funding, and by monitoring research efforts in the public and private sectors. For more information on community advocacy and education, see the AIDS Vaccine Clearinghouse: (http://www.aidsvaccineclearinghouse.org/advocacy.htm)
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