The omicron is surging across the world and COVID-19 is breaking all global records as the largest killer of humankind, more than dictators, tyrants or barbarians, put together. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there have been 5,631,457 deaths as of January 28, 2022. The sad part about these deaths is that most of them could have been prevented, if there had been less misinformation spread in what has been termed as the developed world.
Vaccines have been easily available in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Europe and Israel. However, the U.S. has seen the spread of a huge amount of vaccine disinformation by what can be termed as media, both traditional and social. There is so much of vaccine disinformation available on news channels whose hosts have millions of followers as well as podcasters who also influence millions.
When these influencers on both traditional and social media invite experts who denounce vaccination and tout unscientific cures using drugs like ivermectin and more, then a huge swath of the population gets influenced by this misinformation.
Some people have spread wrong and false information that has led to so many deaths. Many so called “anti-vaxx” heroes went viral on social media for their stance and are hailed by millions for their courage and are praised for leaving jobs that ask for “vaccinated” employees.
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Many of these so called heroes have died from COVID-19. To be fair, some of them have gone on social media and urged others, especially those who listened to their “antivaxx views” to get vaccinated or their family members ask people to get vaccinated and not suffer the loss of a loved one, like they did, but these obituaries or posts rarely go viral.
Protesters against vaccines whether in Canada or the U.S. or Europe get more coverage from media than vaccine drives and initiatives to stop or decrease the spread of COVID-19. The far right and the fringe elements get a lot of coverage and support as they protest.
However, to the horror of the world, and not just the nation, a violent insurrection on a hallowed building shocked lovers of democracy and gladdened the heart of dictators across the world. The eye catching image of the shaman and the surge of the violent mob captivates audiences more than a vaccine rollout at community centers.
Although the January 6 riot shook the nation’s century’s old democratic principles, it is hoped that such incidents would be dealt with the rule of the law and will deter the far right and fringe elements who were behind the riot.
The COVID-19 disinformation campaign may not be violent but it is more insidious as it is eating at the heart of democracy which is “of the people, for the people and by the people.” The people in democracies are being influenced by vaccine misinformation that is spread by the far right and fringe elements. People are losing both their lives and livelihoods. Vaccine hesitancy brought by misinformation might just be a weak aspect of democracy, as few experts can fight to prevent it as the ones who are hesitant say that mandates encroach upon personal freedom and the law of the land.
Some autocrats and dictators force their people to get vaccinated. Ironically by encroaching on personal freedom, they improve collective health and get both their people and economy back on track, faster than democratic nations around the world.
