Govt ready to counter false vaccine information

WELLINGTON: An army of Government social media moderators are set to pounce on Covid19 vaccine misinformation spread online and quickly counter it with facts.

While the vaccination campaign would not aim to convert the ‘‘hardcore’’ 10% of New Zealanders likely to outright refuse to get vaccinated, it would instead focus on convincing the ‘‘vaccine hesitant’’.

According to a survey commissioned by Auckland University, 69% of New Zealanders were willing to get a ‘‘welltested and approved’’ Covid19 vaccine.

Auckland University School of Population Health deputy head Prof Chris Bullen said the research found about 10% of the population would say ‘‘absolutely not’’ to the vaccine and might be ‘‘very hard to persuade’’.

‘‘I don’t think that 10% should be seen as a lost cause, but we do have sort of lowhanging fruit in the 15% to 20% that will be much easier to reach out to.

‘‘But we shouldn’t completely toss our hands up and give up on the hardcore group because within that I think there are still some opportunities.’’

The campaign, set to begin shortly after the first vaccine was administered on Saturday, cannot be a ‘‘onesize fits all’’ because of the differences among the ‘‘vaccine hesitant’’.

Those who would need more convincing were found to be women, Maori and Pasifika, in a lower household income and between 35 to 44 years old.

Other findings of the representative surveys of almost 1500 New Zealanders conducted in September and December were. —

18% (about 652,600 adults) were unlikely to have a followup dose if required.

Maori were marginally more likely to get vaccinated if they could talk to someone they trust about it.

Some 21% would not get a vaccine if they saw a crediblelooking social media post or video which alarmed them or opposed the vaccine.

Uptake was likely to be highest in those aged over 65.

Prof Bullen theorised women needed more convincing because were often the household decisionmaker and took on more responsibility for family health.

The representative survey of almost 1500 New Zealanders found the biggest contributor to hesitancy was safety, so the campaign would directly address any concerns and provide assurance from trusted people and organisations, such as directorgeneral of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and the Ministry of Health.

Social media moderators would also be charged with quickly countering misinformation online by replying with facts and information from trusted sources.

Chief allied health professions officer Martin Chadwick said it was important for anyone who had read or heard something which worried them to look it up on a trusted and official source.

‘‘We don’t want people to spread misinformation, because it can be really harmful to people’s health, particularly those that are vulnerable.’’