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# Johnson slammed for comments on AIDS
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/johnson-slammed-for-comments-on-aids/
- Published: 2021-04-06T11:45:50.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-06T09:11:07.000Z
- Description: Boris Johnson has received criticism after confusing HIV with AIDS.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: HIV, News, Politics, AIDS, Boris Johnson, Covid-19 vaccinations, LGBTQ, National AIDS Trust, UK

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/borisjohnson-600-400.jpg)

Prime minister **Boris Johnson** has received criticism after confusing HIV with AIDS during a press briefing on the Covid-19 vaccines. On **April 5**, Johnson said he was ‘amazed’ that so many vaccines had been produced in a short space of time, adding: *“But I never thought we would get so many workable vaccines in such a short order when you consider…we haven’t got vaccines against SARS or AIDS or whatever.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/adobestock_88059479-e1544462057197.jpg)

The **National AIDS Trust’s**[ reporting guidelines](https://www.nat.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/NAT%5Freporting%5FHIV%20%283%29.pdf?ref=scenemag.co.uk) state that mixing up HIV with AIDS creates *“unhelpful confusion between the two”,* as HIV is the virus itself while AIDS is a condition which can be caused by the virus. Many pointed out Johnson’s mistake, with writer and LGBTQ+ activist **Tom Knight** [tweeting](https://twitter.com/TJ%5FKnight/status/1379111049308348419?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1379111049308348419%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk%2F2021%2F04%2F05%2Fboris-johnson-hiv-aids-coronavirus-downing-street-briefing-backlash-vaccine%2F&ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“Boris Johnson very ignorantly saying “We haven’t got vaccines against SARS, AIDS or whatever” on Downing Street Briefing. The virus is called HIV, Prime Minister. You REALLY should know better.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/boris-johnson-600.jpg)

Other social media users condemned Johnson, with one [saying](https://twitter.com/billbj/status/1379109045110460421?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1379109045110460421%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk%2F2021%2F04%2F05%2Fboris-johnson-hiv-aids-coronavirus-downing-street-briefing-backlash-vaccine%2F&ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“Oh god! You can’t get a vaccine against AIDS, Boris Johnson, any more than you can vaccinate against diabetes or sciatica.”* Another [tweeted](https://twitter.com/joe%5Fwiecha/status/1379112329284091907?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1379112329284091907%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk%2F2021%2F04%2F05%2Fboris-johnson-hiv-aids-coronavirus-downing-street-briefing-backlash-vaccine%2F&ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“‘AIDS or whatever’. The words of our Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021\. Can we look forward to more factual, insightful and thoughtful words on World AIDS Day this year?”* Johnson has not yet responded to criticism.