Professor’s mission to sway anti-vaxxers
FEW issues have set the internet alight over the past couple of years like the subject of antivaxxers.
But TV mathematician Prof Hannah Fry, who worked on government modelling during the first lockdown, believes it’s important to bridge the gap with calm, informed conversations rather than keyboard fury, especially with Covid still so present in our lives.
Approximately four million people are still unvaccinated in the UK, and Hannah invites seven of them to live in a house with her for a week, each of whom has their own reason for saying no to the jab.
Luca buys into social media conspiracy theories and fears the vaccine contains a microchip, while Naomi has been put off by misinformation about the jab impacting fertility and Mark just wants the right to choose.
Meanwhile, Chanelle mistrusts the medical establishment in general, and protestor Nazarin worries about side effects.
Hannah sits down with the group and while some are keen for a robust discussion of the issues, others are immediately defensive.
Hannah tries to address some of the most common worries, by taking them to speak to experts, visiting a vaccine research facility and attempting to illustrate the true likelihood of the most common side effects.
At the end of the experience, she will ask each of them if they have reconsidered where they stand, and whether any of them would actually agree to have the vaccine as a result of these conversations.
But it’s going to be an uphill battle if she wants to change anyone’s mind.