On Facebook, where a vast network of groups trade in false health information, anti-vaxxers pushed a mom not to give her son Tamiflu. He later died. nbcnews.to/2Uwztyg (1/6)
Reporting by @brandyzadrozny. #NBCNewsThreads
Reporting by @brandyzadrozny. #NBCNewsThreads
@BrandyZadrozny On one of the largest known health misinfo groups on Facebook, people spread conspiracies that outbreaks of preventable diseases are “hoaxes” perpetrated by gov't, and mass-contact parents whose children have died and suggest without evidence that vaccines may be to blame. (2/6)
@BrandyZadrozny One recent post came from the mother of a 4-year-old Colorado boy who died from the flu this week. In it, she consulted group members while noting that she had declined to fill a prescription written by a doctor. (3/6)
@BrandyZadrozny The mother wrote that “natural cures” she was treating her kids with weren't working and asked for more advice.
The advice in the comments included breastmilk and thyme, none of which are medically recommended flu treatments.
“Perfect, I’ll try that,” the mother responded (4/6)
The advice in the comments included breastmilk and thyme, none of which are medically recommended flu treatments.
“Perfect, I’ll try that,” the mother responded (4/6)
@BrandyZadrozny The flu has hit children particularly hard this season. Pediatric hospitalization rates are higher than normal, and 68 children have died, according to the CDC. nbcnews.to/2Uwztyg (5/6)
@BrandyZadrozny “This is a tragedy and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. We don’t want vaccine misinformation on Facebook, which is why we’re working hard to reduce it everywhere on the platform, including in private groups,” a Facebook spokesperson says. (6/6)
