As the world receives promising news of COVID-19 vaccines, misinformation and conspiracy theories have also made the rounds.

WHAR ARE SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION 

Some of the false conspiracy theories claim that the coronavirus is no worse than flu, some believe the virus can alter human DNA. Billionaire Bill Gates was also accused of a secret plan to use COVID-19 vaccines to implant microchips in people.

THERE'S ALSO HESITANCE ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINE

While there are promising news from at least three separate COVID-19 vaccine trials, there is a lot we do not know about the safety and long-term efficacy of these vaccines. Public mistrust over vaccines and resistance to getting vaccinated could pose a serious challenge for curbing the pandemic. 
READ: Malaysia will review results of COVID-19 vaccine for use in UK 

BATTLING MISINFORMATION ON COVID-19 VACCINE

On 3 December, Facebook said it will start removing false claims about COVID-19 vaccines that have been debunked by public health experts.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies welcomed the move, with its president Francesco Rocca saying vaccine alone may not end the disease if countries cannot control misinformation.

READ: Facebook bans false claims about COVID-19 vaccines

In Malaysia, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said COVID-19 presents itself as an invincible enemy, the dangers of misinformation are real, and is a setback to the progress that had been made.

He urges nations must come together to fight the misinformation related to the COVID-19 vaccines and anti-vaccination propaganda

He said: “The chief motive for this campaign? To mislead and undermine trust in medicine when it matters most, and ultimately prolong this pandemic. It’s simple – misinformation costs lives, especially as we are preparing national vaccination plans for our people."

READ: Malaysia urges the world to fight misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines head-on

HOW TO DETECT MISINFORMATION ON COVID-19

Here are some suggestions by the WHO:

1. Assess the source

Who passed on the information and where did they get it from? Always vet their source yourself; don’t take their word for it, even if they are family or friends. Check how long social media profiles have been active, their number of followers and their most recent posts.

For websites, search for background information and legitimate contact details. Other signs that an online source is unreliable include spelling mistakes, too many capital letters and exclamation marks.

2. Go beyond headlines

Don’t be influenced by just the headlines – read the entire story and use non-social media sources like newspapers, podcasts and news sites to check the veracity of a headline. “Diversifying your sources allows you to get a better picture of what is trustworthy,” says the WHO.

3. Identify the author

Search the author’s name online to see if they are real or credible. If they claim to be a professional person, check for their profile on LinkedIn. If they say they are an academic, look on the website of the institution to which they say they belong.

4. Check the date

Always ask these questions when you come across information: Is this a recent story? Is it up to date and relevant to current events? Does it have a headline, image or statistic that has been used out of context?

5. Examine the supporting evidence

Credible stories source their facts by including quotes from experts or links to statistics or studies. Verify that experts are reliable by searching for them online and follow links to check they really do back up the story.

6. Check your biases

Our personal biases shape how we see the world. Ask yourself why you have been drawn to a particular headline or story. How did you react to the story and why?

7. Turn to fact-checkers

When in doubt, consult trusted fact-checking organisations, such as the International Fact-Checking Network and global news outlets focused on debunking misinformation, including the Associated Press and Reuters.


Image by WHO