By the summer of 2021, Phil Maytubby, deputy CEO of the health department here, was concerned to see the numbers of people getting vaccinated against covid-19 slipping after an initially robust response. With doubt, fear, and misinformation running rampant nationwide — both online and offline — he knew the agency needed to rethink its messaging strategy.
Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information that is spread intentionally or unintentionally. It can have serious consequences, such as damaging people’s health, spreading fear or mistrust, and undermining democratic processes. It is important to fact-check information before sharing it, and be aware of the sources of the information and their potential biases.