The four horsemen of the anti vax apocalypse

Samantha Cronin ranks the scientific integrity of internet strangers claiming they know stuff about COVID-19.

With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout well and truly underway here in Australia, a return to some semblance of normality is almost in sight. Despite massive public health campaigns to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, people still have their doubts, questions, and wildly off base conspiracy theories about the nature of the vaccine and its effects on the human body. So today, we look at four questionable tweets I found in a tragically short amount of time browsing Twitter and rate them on scientific accuracy, entertainment, educational value and straight-up wackiness. 

1 - That person that thinks they’ve got a good ‘alternative’

 
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I like this one, it starts out strong and factually correct. Vaccines are vital. All vaccines…including this one, provide protection against diseases that can have devastating consequences. The main body of the Tweet however, is a mix of a personal and medical anecdote, a strange allegiance to an antiparasitic drug and a dash of conspiracy theory. If you remember back to midway through the pandemic last year (after the Tiger King phase but before everyone got really into banana bread), ivermectin was front and centre as the solution to the pandemic. Unfortunately, initial hopes were dashed, as no clinical trial so far has been able to establish a significant correlation between ivermectin use and recovery from COVID-19. In fact, the FDA continues to remind people not to take it, especially if you happen to have some left over from an infection your pet had… As for the great ivermectin coverup being purported here - it’s a pandemic, if the silver bullet treatment was out there, I don’t think anyone would be looking to hide it. 4/10 good start, kind of lost focus at the end there.

 2 - That Uncle that’s ‘not like the other anti-vaxxers’

 
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For someone who is supposedly “no threat to anyone”, this tweet has a super threatening vibe. I understand not wanting to get poked in the arm with a needle. But it doesn’t take much to think about which you want more: the vaccine, or the virus? I would choose the vaccine every time and I like to think most people would. For some reason though, I just can’t explain the quotation marks around the word “vaccine”…it definitely adds to the strange energy radiating off this tweet. And then there’s the threat of war which is, in any circumstance, problematic. 0/10 nothing good came out of this tweet. 

3 - That friend that thinks they’re above the vaccine

 
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This is the chilled out version of the above (no war threats) but I chose it because this is a widely held view by people our age. This Tweet is simply incorrect. Many think that because they’re young COVID-19 won’t affect them and that it’s “just a cold.” In reality, there’s no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you unless you’ve had it. Risk factors can increase your risk of developing a bad case of COVID-19, but it doesn’t mean those with no known risk factors will always get a mild case. Also, even if you do get a “mild case” have you ever had a bad cold?! It’s no fun. Why would you choose to feel sick and get others sick (who could get more than “a bad cold” by the way) when you could just get a jab and be done with it? 2/10, at least they’re sorry. 

4 - That really sciencey friend who creates a safe space for you to ask tricky questions

 
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Actually, this one’s 100% correct! You should ask questions, and you do have a right to data, information and bodily autonomy. You deserve to make an informed choice for yourself with information from a reputable provider and not from a Twitter stranger who’s brother’s workplace acquaintance’s mailman walked past a COVID-19 vaccine clinic and developed a cough and a sore foot three weeks later. Below are some links to get started (including the brand new calculator to figure out when you’ll be eligible for your vaccine!). 10/10, love it. 




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