'Vaccines are satanic': Bolivia battles fake news in inoculation drive
May 20, 2021
1:42 PM CDT
Americas
Reuters
3 minute read
Bolivia's immunization drive against COVID-19 is being hit by anti-vaccine misinformation that is stoking scepticism and leaving inoculation centers half empty, a challenge for the government facing a wave of new infections.
Health workers and officials have raised concerns about low turnout at some vaccination sites, saying jabs are going to waste. They blame fake news campaigns that have included leaflets saying vaccines contain "satanic" material.
"We read some pamphlets in El Alto from anti-vaccine groups about the presence of a substance in the vaccines from Lucifer and because of that the vaccines were satanic," said Maria Rene Castro, deputy minister of epidemiology.
"Global disinformation has come to our country and it has had an impact on people who are avoiding getting vaccinated."
More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/vaccines-are-satanic-bolivia-battles-fake-news-inoculation-drive-2021-05-20/
