Disinformation – false information intended to mislead – is a common challenge for public health campaigns and has hampered COVID-19 efforts from the start. Whether trying to find answers about how COVID-19 is transmitted or learn about the vaccine , the public has had to wade through mass amounts of disinformation to get to the science-based facts.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month in the U.S. and The Task Force’s Voices for Vaccines (VFV) program – a family-driven organization supported by scientists, doctors, and public health officials to provide parents clear, science-based information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable disease – is focused this month on dispelling COVID-19 vaccine disinformation. Using their social media channels and collaborating with partners, they discuss myths about COVID-19 vaccines and encourage people to share why they got vaccinated through the #WhyIVax campaign.
VFV’s Director Karen Ernst spoke with disinformation expert and NBC reporter Brandy Zadrozny on VFV’s latest Vax Talk episode “The State of Disinformation.”