How is HIV/AIDS affecting women?

Women are increasingly being affected by the HIV/

AIDS epidemic. In 2005, HIV/AIDS was the sixth leading 

cause of death among all women ages 25 to 34 in the 

United States, and the fifth leading cause of death 

among all women ages 35 to 44. Through 2006, more 

than 90,000 women with AIDS have died in the United 

States. Women now account for approximately 27% of 

the estimated 40,000 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the 

United States each year. African American women 

comprise 65% of new AIDS diagnoses among women, 

while Hispanic women account for 15%. The majority 

of women acquire HIV through sex with HIV-infected 

men. Approximately 70% of women who acquired HIV in 

2004 were infected by their male sexual partners, while 

approximately 28% acquired the virus through injection 

drug use. 

Why do we need a preventive 

HIV vaccine? 

• There is NO cure for AIDS. While the availability of 

anti-retroviral therapy has had a dramatic impact by 

decreasing AIDS-related deaths in this country, these 

treatment regimens are complex, costly and can cause 

serious side effects. In addition, patients can develop 

drug resistance.

• Like smallpox and polio vaccines, a preventive HIV 

vaccine could help save millions of lives.

• Developing safe, effective and affordable vaccines that 

can prevent HIV infection in uninfected people is the 

best hope for controlling and/or ending the 

AIDS epidemic.

• The long-term goal is to develop a vaccine that is 100% 

effective and protects everyone from getting infected 

with HIV. However, even if a vaccine only protects 

some people, it could still have a major impact on 

the rates of transmission and help in controlling the 

epidemic. A partially effective vaccine could decrease 

the number of people who get infected with HIV, further 

reducing the number of people who can pass the virus 

on to others.

• An HIV vaccine may also be beneficial for HIVinfected individuals by helping to delay the onset of 

AIDS or slowing disease progression. These types of 

vaccines are referred to as “therapeutic” vaccines. 

It is not known if a preventive HIV vaccine will have 

a therapeutic benefit in HIV-infected individuals. 

This would require additional clinical trials in those 

populations.

What is a vaccine?

A vaccine “teaches” the immune system to 

recognize and defend against a virus (such as 

HIV), bacteria or other disease-causing agent.

bethegeneration.nih.gov

Women

Answers about HIV 

vaccine research

*CDC Data

HIV/AIDS disproportionately 

affects women*

Women: 

Represent nearly 1 in 4 

newly reported cases 

of HIV infection in the 

United States

African American 

Women: In 2006, the 

AIDS case rate among 

African American 

women was 21 times as 

high as among white 

women 

Hispanic/Latina 

Women: In 2006, the 

AIDS case rate among 

Hispanic/Latina women 

was 5 times as high as 

among white women

White African American

White Hispanic/Latinas

Women of color are increasingly affected by HIV/AIDS
What is happening in preventive HIV 

vaccine research?

• Since 1987, the National Institute of Allergy and 

Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has enrolled more than 

25,000 volunteers in more than 100 HIV vaccine 

clinical trials that have tested more than 60 

different vaccine candidates.

• Despite these efforts, there is currently NO 

preventive HIV vaccine available. 

• Scientists believe that an effective preventive HIV 

vaccine is possible and are working to speed up 

the research process. 

How safe are the vaccines being 

tested in people?

• Preventive vaccines cannot cause HIV infection 

because they do not contain the HIV virus. 

• Few side effects have been associated with 

experimental HIV vaccines. The most common 

side effects are soreness at the site of injection, a 

low-grade fever and body aches. These responses 

normally disappear quickly on their own and are 

similar to those seen with licensed vaccines.

• Protecting the health and privacy of the volunteers 

is a high priority of HIV vaccine clinical trials. Prior 

to entering a trial, volunteers are fully informed 

of the processes, the vaccines being tested and 

possible outcomes. Volunteers who wish to 

participate are then required to sign an “informed 

consent” form to officially agree to take part in the 

trial. Once enrolled, a volunteer may leave the 

trial at any time.

• Throughout a vaccine clinical trial, volunteers are 

continually counseled on how to reduce behaviors 

that may put them at risk for HIV infection. 

How can I be sure the research 

is being done right? 

• Safeguards and protections are built into HIV vaccine 

clinical trials to ensure that they meet the highest 

FDA standards to protect volunteers and assure the 

development of safe and effective vaccines.

• Clinical trials are monitored throughout the study to 

guarantee the safety of the participants and ensure 

that the trial can meet its objectives.

• Anyone who is interested can learn more about the 

NIAID clinical research process and get involved 

through participation in a Community Advisory Board 

(CAB). CABs are located in areas where NIAIDsponsored HIV vaccine trials are occurring. Through 

a CAB, members can provide input into study designs 

and local procedures and can help to prepare and 

educate the community about vaccine clinical trials. 

Participation in a CAB helps to ensure that a trial meets 

the needs of the community. 

Who is doing the research?

• Many public and private research organizations, both 

domestic and international, are working in collaboration to 

develop preventive HIV vaccines. These include leading 

universities, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical 

firms and government agencies such as NIAID.

• NIAID conducts and supports research to understand, 

treat and ultimately prevent the diseases that threaten 

hundreds of millions of people worldwide. This includes 

a broad and diverse research and development 

program for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

Where can I learn more? 

For more information on preventive HIV vaccine 

research, go to: http://bethegeneration.nih.gov, 

or e-mail bethegeneration@nih.gov.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Division of AIDS

May 2009

NIH Publication No. 09-6072

What can women do?

• Let others know you support HIV 

vaccine research.

• Educate others about the need for an 

HIV vaccine and the importance of trial 

participation of all races/ethnicities, genders 

and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Support vaccine volunteers and/or 

volunteer yourself.

• Get involved by joining a Community 

Advisory Board.

There is no preventive HIV

vaccine available.

Scientists are working hard to develop HIV 

vaccines. HIV vaccines do not contain any actual 

HIV, and therefore, cannot cause HIV infection.