Covid-19: Misinformation flood hampers fight for virus vaccine in Africa


A patient receiving a seasonal influenza vaccine from a nurse at a local pharmacy clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. Across the continent, Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms have been swamped by messaging that characterises vaccine research as harmful or even part of a plot to kill black people. — AP

DAKAR: The task of introducing a vaccine for the coronavirus faces an uphill struggle in Africa, where a flood of online misinformation is feeding on mistrust of Western medical research.

Across the continent, Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms have been swamped by messaging that characterises vaccine research as harmful or even part of a plot to kill black people.

The Star Christmas Special Promo: Save 35% OFF Yearly. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Fake news , vaccines

Next In Tech News

Louis Gerstner, former IBM CEO who revitalized 'Big Blue,' dies at 83
Amazon halts plans for drone delivery in Italy
Coupang founder Kim Bom apologises for data leak, pledges compensation
Sam Altman hints at the radical design choices behind OpenAI’s upcoming devices
Opinion: Enable Wi-Fi calling if your house has dead zones
'Brazen attempt': Can a start-up restore the original Twitter brand?
An ecological tale gives life to Metroid Prime 4
TSMC says some facilities evacuated after quake
Analysis-Waymo's San Francisco outage raises doubts over robotaxi readiness during crises
Apple, Google and others tell some foreign employees to avoid traveling out of the country

Others Also Read