City bids to tackle anti-vax conspiracies

ANTI-VACCINE conspiracy theories are putting the lives of care home residents at risk, according to reports. Care home workers are being targeted on social media by posts casting doubt on the efficacy and necessity of immunisations against Covid-19 as Glasgow’s health bosses confirmed they were stepping up bids to tackle misinformation.

An investigation carried out by the Sunday Times found that up to 30% of social care workers had voiced concerns about getting the vaccine.

The paper reported that, across Scotland, the uptake of the jab was just 55% for staff in contrast with a rate of 80% of residents.

The picture in Glasgow is different, as the council confirmed that 97% of elderly residents had been immunised and 76% of workers.

Health bosses across the city are working to ensure their staff are immunised against the virus, with the Health and Social Care Partnership engaging with workers to increase their confidence in the vaccine.

A spokesman said: “We’ve found that the hesitancy from staff is falling as soon as you start sitting them down and talking about it.”

One worker in a South Side care home not run by the council – who did not wish to be named – said her bosses had implied that staff who had not been vaccinated would not receive any work.

“We’ve all been vaccinated,” she said. “Some people had been expressing doubt about it but when push came to shove they went for it.”

She noted there could have been problems booking the jab and expressed concern about the timing of getting the second dose.

Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said the theories may put lives at risk.

Inoculating care staff is “an important arm of protecting the very vulnerable people” living in the homes, he added.

Gary Smith, secretary of the GMB in Scotland, called for a targeted campaign to educate concerned workers. He added that the issue has mainly emerged with home carers.

“These workers are isolated and, importantly, their trust and confidence in the government is at rock bottom,” he said.

Glasgow City Council has announced plans to hold a questionand-answer session to dispel common misconceptions.

A spokesman for the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership said: “The best way to keep our staff and service users safe is for everyone who is recommended to have the vaccine to have it.

“Unfortunately, right across the world we see people spreading misinformation.

“The way to tackle this is to be sensitive to people’s fears and help them to understand that it’s safe and that the vast majority of their colleagues have decided to protect themselves, their families and the people they care for.”