Senate Resolution No. 2317

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 18, 2024, as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious public
health issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 18, 2024, as HIV
Vaccine Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day; and

WHEREAS, HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD) is an annual event
established to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers,
community members, health professionals, and scientists who are working
together to find a safe and effective HIV vaccine; it is also a day to
educate our Nation's communities about the importance of preventive HIV
vaccine research; and

WHEREAS, More than 36 million people worldwide are living with HIV,
and more than 20 million lives have been lost due to HIV and AIDS
related illness; the need for an HIV vaccine remains urgent; once
infected, most people will eventually need to stay on treatment for the
rest of their lives; and

WHEREAS, In addition, treatments are complex, costly, and only slow
the disease, there is no cure; to ensure the end of the HIV and AIDS
epidemic, prevention is essential; and

WHEREAS, A vaccine helps our body learn how to fight off a virus,
such as HIV; a preventive HIV vaccine would protect HIV-negative people
from being infected with the disease; and

WHEREAS, The long-term goal is to develop a vaccine that protects
everyone from getting infected with HIV, however, even a vaccine that
protects only some people would still be very helpful; such a vaccine
could decrease the number of people who are infected with HIV, which
would reduce the number of people who can pass the virus on to others;
and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, researchers are looking to see whether HIV
vaccines could help people who are already infected with HIV; if
effective, such a vaccine would teach the body to control HIV infection,
so the progression from silent HIV infection to full-blown AIDS would
happen much more slowly or could even be stopped; and

WHEREAS, The 2024 targets include reducing the number of people
dying from HIV-related causes to fewer than 500,000; based on current
estimates, this provides an opportunity to prevent over 400,000 deaths
per year; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, community
activities and media events will be held across the United States to
educate communities throughout the country on the importance of
preventative HIV and AIDS research; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious public health issue, and more must be done to increase
activity at the local, State and national levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 18, 2024, as HIV
Vaccine Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.