FAQs: NYCvaccine.org

Imagine if there were an HIV vaccine!

Right now, there is no vaccine that can prevent someone from becoming infected with HIV. But imagine if there were.

Over 20 cities worldwide are doing studies to help find an HIV vaccine. New York City is one of those cities!

Join us and thousands of others in New York City and around the world who have already volunteered for vaccine studies.

There is something everyone can do to help.

FAQs

If a vaccine is found, will the AIDS crisis be over?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. An effective vaccine would prevent new infections but only for people who get vaccinated. The right vaccine could also slow down disease progression in people already infected with HIV.

A vaccine is not a cure. And it will not single-handedly end the AIDS crisis. People living with HIV will need treatment improvements, as well as programs that provide direct care. Ongoing, coordinated HIV prevention efforts will also be needed to end the HIV epidemic for good.

Isn’t it a bad sign that it’s taking so long to find an HIV Vaccine?
No, not at all. Effective, safe vaccines take time to develop. It took 22 years to find the vaccine for Hepatitis A. 30 years for the Measles.

We are approaching the 20-year mark of working on the HIV vaccine. It may seem like a long time but the Polio vaccine took 47 years.

Who’s eligible for the Trials?
Just about anyone who is healthy and HIV negative can participate. To be considered, you must be between the ages of 18 and 50.

Do I have to live in NYC to help out?
No – if you live outside of the five boroughs you’re welcome to participate as long as you can make a weekday visit to one of our sites on average once a month.

We are part of a national effort. If you far from NYC, there may be another site closer to you.

How long is the commitment?
Currently, there are several different Vaccine Trials happening in New York City. Each Trial has been designed differently.

Who Sponsors the Studies?
At this time, all our vaccine studies are sponsored by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. The HVTN is an international collaboration of scientists and educators searching for an effective and safe HIV vaccine.

Can I get HIV from the vaccine?
It is impossible to get HIV infection or develop AIDS from experimental vaccines. They do NOT contain HIV.

What are the side effects?
The vaccines we are testing have all been tested in animals, and many have already been tested in other people, so we have a good idea of the most common side effects. Those tend to be soreness at the site of injection, and some people also experience mild cold-like symptoms, such as a fever or headaches, for a day or two after the vaccine. Because it is an experimental product, there may be other side effects we don’t know about.

Where are you located?
We have two sites, each within a block of the subway:

Columbia University – Upper Manhattan
HIV Prevention & Treatment Research
180 Ft Washington St., Room HP-924
New York, NY 10032
212-305-2201
Project Achieve – Union Square
853 Broadway, Suite 1111
New York, NY 10003
212-388-0008