Vaccine-o-licious: Drag pageant for HIV vaccine awareness gets the Brooklyn treatment

Brooklyn’s unofficial start of summer 2023 is kicking off this weekend with a night of camp, education, HIV awareness — and free pizza!

On Sunday evening, HIV prevention superpower Project Achieve is bringing to East Williamsburg its annual “Vaccine-o-licious: Performers Uniting for an HIV Vaccine.”

Now in its 18th edition, the no-shade-all-fun event will bring together eight contestants from New York City’s legendary nightlife community to battle it out on stage ― by performing and answering questions — to win the coveted title of Mx. Vaccine-o-licious.

The event has been known to produce some soon-to-become drag royalty, including some of the most popular queens of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Among the A-list of past participants are Tina Burner, Honey Davenport, Peppermint, and Jiggly Caliente, who’s coming back this year as both a performer and a judge.

Hosted by New York City drag superstars Stella D’oro and Jus Jahlisa, this year’s competition takes over the queer-owned mega venue 3 Dollar Bill starting at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Presented in partnership with the Columbia Research Unit and the NYC HIV Prevention Community Advisory Board, the event will offer opportunities for anyone wanting to take part in the international effort to find an HIV vaccine, and also connect people with HIV treatment and services.

Vaccine-o-licious was created to “bring the LGBTQ+ community together to raise awareness for HIV vaccine research and set standards of care for people living with HIV,” said “Queen Mum of Vaccine” D’oro, one of the event’s co-founders.

For nearly two decades, the program has used humor and fun — and over-the-top wigs — to educate, entertain and recruit participants for vaccine trials, D’oro said. The work aims to eradicate a disease that has killed more than 700,000 people in the U.S. since the country’s first cases were confirmed four decades ago.

For the past 30 years, Project Achieve has played a vital role in the ongoing global fight against HIV. The organization — founded in 1993 as part of the New York Blood Center’s Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention — conducts vaccine research, as well as behavioral studies with HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

Working in communities throughout the five boroughs, the group distributes HIV prevention materials while increasing support for vaccine research and new, potentially life-saving vaccine trials.

Vaccine-o-licious, one of the organization’s most festive events, is designed to educate and raise awareness through music, dance and fun.

“We’ll have our recruiters and give away materials about the [vaccine] studies while integrating the messaging throughout the show,” John Bonelli, the organization’s community engagement and recruitment manager, told the Daily News.

Bonelli said the event is an extension of the type of outreach the group focuses on throughout the year. The group recruits potential participants on the streets, in bars, parks and sex venues, as well as through social media.

“Then we hold these special events that also enhance the recruitment efforts [as we] try to embed ourselves even more fully in the community,” Bonelli said.

Sunday’s event will also include a raffle for prizes including a TV and a $250 Sephora gift card.

But besides enjoying a night of perks, pizza and performances, attendants will also have a chance to see “the talent, the passion and the commitment that people have to create effective preventive vaccines,” Bonelli added.

“This is the moment to get involved,” he urged. “But of course, come have fun at the event, meet some wonderful people [and] see if there’s ways you could participate, whether as a study participant, or on our community advisory board, or donating to the cause, or being involved in any way.”