KUALA LUMPUR – Nations must come together to fight misinformation on Covid-19 vaccines, as well as anti-vaccination propaganda, as the world prepares plans to contain the pandemic, said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
The foreign minister said misinformation deals a setback to the progress that has been made.
In his intervention at the 31st Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in Response to Covid-19 today, he said as soon as news of a vaccine breakthrough made headlines around the world, misinformation about forced vaccinations, DNA alterations and fake accounts started spreading.
“Global fears have been intensified by the immediacy of round-the-clock news cycles and unending streams of information, both accurate and false, on social media.
“The chief motive for this campaign? To mislead and undermine trust in medicine when it matters most, and ultimately, to prolong this pandemic. It’s simple – misinformation costs lives, especially as we are preparing national vaccination plans for our people.”
He said public awareness on the need to vaccinate is crucial to prevent fear and division in the roll-out phase.
“Negativity, as an outcome of the propaganda, must be addressed head-on. It would be a tragedy if, in our eagerness, dangerous supporters who campaign against the whole concept of vaccination be left to flourish – risking damaging influence to the masses, and threatening millions more lives.”
He said Malaysia’s stand is that Covid-19 vaccines must be accessible, equitable and affordable to all.
“A single virus has claimed the lives of over 1.4 million people worldwide, and has plunged us into a global recession.
“It has resulted in a health, economic and social crisis – a potent concoction that if left unmanaged, could reverse the decades of progress we have achieved together in the UN.” – Bernama, December 4, 2020
