Leaflets with anti Covid vaccination messages have been delivered through doors on the Isle of Wight, including at retirement complexes.
The leaflets make damaging false claims such as Islanders dying after being vaccinated for Covid-19, as well as including links to questionable Websites such as UK Column News.
False claims
The leaflet incorrectly states 99.97 per cent of people who become infected with Covid-19 will only suffer mild or no symptoms.
The reality is that approximately nine per cent of those who tested positive on the Isle of Wight (6,275) have ended up in hospital (563).
Given the damaging nature of the leaflet, News OnTheWight has asked for an urgent response from the Director of Public Health on the Isle of Wight, Simon Bryant. We’ll update once the press team gets back to us.
Delivered to older residents
The leaflet was shared on the Isle of Wight Coronavirus Support Group on Facebook by Denise Cronin. She went on to add,
“What is so despicable is that these have been delivered to my elderly neighbours (we live on a retirement complex).
“Most of them have had the jab, but such scaremongering is so dangerous and insensitive for those who are already living with anxiety.”
Questionable Websites
Independent body, Newsguard, says UK Column News, just one of the Websites promoted on the leaflet, publishes false and misleading health information, including about Covid-19.
The Trust Tool rates the site 17.5 out of 100 for news credibility and transparency and warns readers to “proceed with caution”.
Smith: Incredibly dangerous to share misinformation
Alison Smith, Managing Director of NHS Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, told News OnTheWight,
“There will always be a small number of people who question vaccinations and disagree with the national immunisation programme.
“While the great majority of people fully understand the issues, it is incredibly dangerous to share misinformation and I encourage any household that has received this letter to ignore it.
“The Covid-19 vaccinations that are being used are safe and effective for the vast majority of people – they have been tested on thousands of people and assessed by experts.
“This is the biggest immunisation programme in the history of the NHS and I appreciate people will have questions about the vaccine, how it has been developed, its safety and its delivery.
“I would urge you to look at official, trusted organisations to get this information. Both NHS.uk and GOV.uk have vast amounts of information which can dispel the myths.
“The vaccine is a huge step forward to help us safely come out of the pandemic and it is important to take up the vaccine when it is offered to you.”
Article edit
11.35am 4th Feb 2021 – Name of person who reported the leaflet added
4.50pm 5th Feb 2021 – Comment from Alison Smith added
Image: united nations under CC BY 2.0
