Groups sow doubt about COVID vaccine before one even exists

A coronavirus vaccine is still months or years away, but groups that peddle misinformation about immunizations are alrey taking aim, potentially eroding confidence in what could be humanity’s best chance to defeat virus.

In recent weeks, vaccine opponents have me several unsubstantiated claims, including allegations that vaccine trials will be dangerously rushed or that Dr. Anthony Fauci, nation’s top infectious diseases expert, is blocking cures to enrich vaccine makers. y’ve also falsely claimed that Microsoft founder Bill Gates wants to use a vaccine to inject microchips into people — or to cull 15% of world’s population.

Vaccine opponents in U.S. have been around for a long time. ir claims range from relatively modest safety concerns about specific vaccines or risk of side effects to conspiracy ories that border on bizarre.

movement is receiving renewed attention, especially as it aligns itself with groups loudly protesting restrictions on daily life aimed at controlling spre of virus. Health professionals say vaccine misinformation could have lethal consequences if it les people to opt for bogus cures inste.

“Only a coronavirus vaccine can truly protect us from future outbreaks,” said Dr. Scott Ratzan, a physician and medical misinformation expert at City University of New York and Columbia University. “But what if effort succeeds and large numbers of people decide t to vaccinate mselves or ir children?”

While vaccines for diseases such as polio, smallpox and measles have benefited millions, some skeptics reject science, citing a distrust of modern medicine and government. Ors say mandatory vaccine requirements violate ir religious freedom.

Rita Palma, leer of anti-vaccine group in Long Island called My Kids, My Choice, is among those who say ir families won’t get coronavirus vaccine.

“Many of us are anxiety stricken at thought of being forced to get a vaccine,” Palma said. “I will never choose to have a COVID-19 vaccine. I don’t want government forcing it on my community or my family.”

From outset of coronavirus pandemic, vaccine skeptics have tailored several long-standing claims about vaccine safety to fit current outbreak. When first U.S. case was anunced in January, some alleged coronavirus was manufactured and that patents for it could be found online.

Thousands of deaths later, vaccine opponents are endorsing unapproved treatments, second-guessing medical experts and pushing fears about mandatory vaccinations. y’ve also latched onto protests against stay-at-home orders in U.S.

“ coronavirus has created this perfect storm of misinformation,” remarked David A. Broniatowski, an associate professor at George Washington University’s school of engineering and applied science who has published several studies on vaccine misinformation.

Last week, an anti-vaccine activist was arrested in Idaho after repeatedly refusing police orders to leave a playground closed because of pandemic. woman, who was re with or families, is affiliated with two groups that protested at Idaho Statehouse against stay-at-home orders.

Facebook groups formed to organize protests have been peppered with vaccine hoaxes and myths. Perhaps one plays a bigger role in conspiracy ories than Gates, who is funding vaccine research. online movement has centered concerns around a COVID-19 vaccine on false claims that Gates is planning to microchip people with vaccine or use it to reduce world's population.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine critic who helped popularize unsubstantiated claims that vaccines can cause autism, said Gates’ work gives him “dictatorial control of global health policy.” Roger Stone, a former viser to President Donald Trump, went furr on a New York City rio show, saying Gates “and or globalists” are using coronavirus “for mandatory vaccinations and microchipping people.”

Such wild ories can have real-world effects. False rumors that Gates hoped to test an experimental vaccine in South Africa became mainstream after a news site erroneously reported claim. One of country’s political parties n sent a letter to President Cyril Rampahosa demanding answers about “deals” struck with Gates.

In fact, Gates and his wife are financing a vaccine trial in Philelphia and Kansas City, Missouri, t South Africa. He also suggested creating a database of people immune to virus, t implanting microchips.

On Monday, during remarks recognizing World Immunization Week, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros ham Ghebreyesus criticized vaccine skeptics for spreing misinformation at a time when many families are delaying or skipping routine childhood immunizations because y’re afraid of COVID-19 exposure in doctors’ offices.

“Myths and misinformation about vaccines are ding fuel to fire,” he said.

Health experts have repeatedly said re is evidence coronavirus was intentionally created or spre. y also insist that vaccines are t only safe, but essential to global health.

“Vaccine researchers and anyone who is a vaccine vocate cares deeply about vaccine safety,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a Children’s Hospital of Philelphia physician and co-inventor of a vaccine for rotavirus, which kills hundreds of thousands of children annually.

For most people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death for some people, especially older ults and people with existing health problems.

vaccine debate is fertile ground for groups looking to sow discord in United States. Russia seized on it to create divisions before 2016 U.S. election, and appears to be at it again.

A report from a European Union disinformation task force found numerous conspiracy ories in English-langu Russian media, including state-run RT, claiming an eventual vaccine will be used to inject naparticles into people.

“When pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets spre anti-vaccine tropes, y become responsible for those who will hesitate to seek professional medical care," EU report said.