AIDS Action also calls on Congress to end the ban on the use of federal funds for syringe exchange and ensure that Washington D.C. continues to be allowed to use its own local tax funds for the use of syringe exchange.  “Congress must act immediately on this important legislation – 8000 people a year in the U.S. are infected either directly or indirectly by injection drug use at a lifetime cost of more than $700,000 for treatment,” said Ronald Johnson, Deputy Executive Director.  “The human and health care costs are too great to continue to reject this prevention technique that has proven to be effective.” 

AIDS Action reiterates its long standing support for ongoing research for HIV vaccines, treatments, and biomedical and behavioral prevention interventions as part of a comprehensive response to HIV around the globe.  AIDS Action thanks the thousands of Thai people that volunteered for the RV-144 vaccine trial.  This was the largest HIV vaccine clinical trial ever completed and the first time a vaccine proved to be effective at preventing HIV in a clinical trial. While the efficacy was very modest, the results have given hope to the HIV vaccine research field. The search must continue. Ongoing trials are taking place in the United States and around the globe. Please visit www.hopetakesaction.org and www.bethegeneration.org to learn more.  

Finally, AIDS Action highlights the ongoing work of creating a National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  “We urge the Administration to keep pushing towards creation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy,” said Haag.  “The U.S. must hold itself accountable by creating measurements and funding to reduce new HIV infections, ensure that all people living with HIV have access to high quality care and reduce HIV-related health disparities.