Watch 'The Fight Against Vaccine Hesitancy' 9.30 pm tonight on SBS and later on SBS On Demand
Vaccine hesitancy has been identified as a key hurdle for achieving COVID-19 herd immunity and there are fears some migrant communities are amongst those most at risk.
A reliance on information about the pandemic from their countries of origin, combined with the fact English may not be their first language, means some migrant groups are being left out of key vaccine messaging and may be susceptible to misinformation, experts warn.
An anti forced vaccination sign in Mullumbimby, NSW. Source: Dateline
“We do see specific misinformation marketing to sub-segments (of society),” said Imran Ahmed, who heads US and UK based monitor group the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). “So, for example, there is specific marketing that goes to mums, to Muslims, to other different types of segments.”
Mr Ahmed says the bulk of misinformation on social media platforms comes from a small array of “professional anti-vaxxers”, which, he says, are “specifically oriented to damaging confidence in the (COVID-19) vaccines”.
He says the creators of this type of content then attempt to “funnel people who’ve fallen for the misinformation to their own online properties, where they’re converted into marketing leads, selling them books, access to secret information, or false cures.”
Dr Rachel Heap, who helped establish the Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters group in northern New South Wales, says health illiteracy is a key factor in receptiveness to misinformation.
“Now that could be because they come from non-English speaking background, they could be refugees or recent migrants, or they could be from a demographic around (the Northern Rivers), where people have been born and bred and grown up into a framework where the cultural narrative is that mainstream and authority is bad,” said Dr Heap, who specialises in intensive care medicine.
“This is where I get really passionate about it because there are a bunch of people preying on the vulnerable,” said Dr Heap.
“They're preying on people who maybe don't have very good health literacy, people who are already scared or nervous about government or authority.
“You take that fertile field of an audience and you can use marketing techniques to sell a really convincing story.”
Infectious diseases expert Dr Nadia Chaves says understanding the reasons behind some health inequalities is key to combating vaccine misinformation that is being targeted at these communities.
“There seems to be a lot of blame sometimes on minority CALD communities,” says Dr Chaves, who collaborates with Melbourne community healthcare provide Co-Health.
Dr Nadia Chaves is an infectious diseases expert. Source: Dateline
She says, “what’s important to understand is that there is vaccine hesitancy across all parts of our community – to suggest it is simply a problem amongst ‘migrant communities’ is wrong, and simply reinforces so much of the demonisation that these community groups have already experienced.”
During lockdown, Melbourne's public housing towers became ground zero for Australia’s COVID-19 response.
Residents from a mostly CALD background told SBS Dateline the 5-day snap lockdown left them feeling fearful and victimised.
Battling on the front line against COVID-19 vaccine misinformation is Hiba, a resident in the Melbourne public housing towers for 21 years.
She is working with co-health to debunk misinformation daily. She talks to residents about any concerns they may have about the vaccine and connects them to correct and in-language information.
“We as a community can really take charge of our own situation. It’s about rebutting this misinformation, addressing it, not just like pushing it under the rug.”
Dr Chaves explains how a combination of language barriers, poverty and structural racism means that some people are more likely to be persuaded by misinformation.
“Improving vaccine hesitancy and reducing misinformation for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds requires identifying and breaking down the structural barriers to care and building trust,” she said.
“We do, of course, need translated materials on COVID-19 vaccination. But a translated brochure alone is not enough.
“Whilst advocating for vaccinations is important, we also need to advocate for safer housing, secure employment and more relevant mental health and wellbeing services. Unless support for healthcare is wrap-around, trust will not be established or maintained.”
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine in more than 60 languages go to sbs.com.au/language/coronavirus
