AIDS denialism was a popular movement in the late 80s and early 90s. It caused death and destruction - and people like RFK Jr still occasionally parrot the lies. That poppers or bad lifestyle caused AIDS and that HIV is NOT the real cause.

These lies have killed thousands of people - and harmed many more.

Given RFK Jr is now going to lead HHS - and be responsible for setting policy and dictating public health - let’s take a look at one high profile AIDS denier and the damage she caused.

Christine Maggiore believed that HIV did not cause AIDS. She believed it was the treatment that caused the disease - and as a result refused to treat her HIV. She wouldn’t even take them when pregnant and breastfeeding - despite doctor’s advising her they drastically reduced the odds of giving your baby HIV.

Her daughter Eliza became sick at 3 years old and died of an AIDS related pneumonia- without ever being tested for HIV. 

Doctors who weighed in on the case expressed concerns of negligence on behalf of both her parents and the paediatricians involved. 

They explained that had Eliza been HIV+ her pneumonia would have been treated with a more aggressive antibiotic which could have changed the outcome. 

The police investigated Maggiore - but in the end the L.A. District Attorney declined to prosecute. 

Christine did not change her stance and continued to promote her AIDS denialism - at one point bragging that at least 50 women had “come around to her point of view.” 

She literally lost her child and still couldn’t see past her dangerous anti science rhetoric. 

How many children were needlessly infected with HIV and subsequently died of AIDS? We can never know for sure. 

Folks like Christine and other AIDS denialists preyed on people’s fear and their need to not be responsible for infecting their children. It’s far easier to blame the drugs and lifestyle - because then you can tell yourself you’re ‘better than those people.’ Safer. You won’t get sick and die.

Christine’s behaviour was frighteningly similar to the “exercise your immune system” crowd. The people who refuse ANY Covid mitigations because they believe they can diet and exercise their way out of serious illness and disease.

They fight against clean air, refuse vaccinations and rage against masks. They blame “big pharma” instead of considering Covid may be more dangerous than they realize. 

Christine encouraged other mothers to avoid HIV meds and “trust their immune systems” and it had devastating consequences. 

Now we see parents encouraging repeat Covid infections as they chase elusive herd immunity. Refusing MMR vaccines. Organizing measles and chicken pox parties. 

We have a man poised to lead public health who openly opposes all childhood vaccinations and has been reckless with his HIV and Covid minimization.

Children will become disabled and die - and just like Eliza - they deserve to be protected. 

We need clean air in schools (and school busses) and better public health guidance on masking. We need people acknowledging that COVID is anything but “mild” in children. We need to ensure children retain access to vaccines.

It’s worth noting that Maggiore died three years after her daughter Eliza of AIDS related pneumonia…. But never publicly changed her stance on HIV. 

Denial is powerful and cognitive dissonance a hard nut to crack. But children are counting on us. They need us to do better. 

RFK Jr has potential to do tremendous damage to the health of future generations. This isn’t just about Covid or HIV - but rather any and all disease that we’ve made strides against. He will take us back to a time before we fluoridated the water & vaccinated kids. We must fight back.

For more on Christine Maggiore & AIDS denialism check out the article below:

https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-christine-maggiore30-2008dec30-story.html

Note that it’s estimated that at one point 1 in 4 people with HIV believed it wouldn’t cause AIDS. We don’t hear about it now because they all died. 

Denialism & anti-public health messaging kills. For more on RFK Jr and HHS click below:

https://www.them.us/story/rfk-jr-kennedy-trump-health-human-services-secretary