1/ Anyone notice a narrative forming today that there should be no delays to the roadmap because only people who haven't been bothered to get vaccinated are at risk?
"Anyone with common sense is already protected" several @lbc callers have said
"Anyone with common sense is already protected" several @lbc callers have said
2/ This has come with several statements
"Vaccines work just as well with B1.617.2"
"Higher transmissibility isn't an issue as there is no sign it has more severity or that younger age groups are impacted"
"Vaccines work just as well with B1.617.2"
"Higher transmissibility isn't an issue as there is no sign it has more severity or that younger age groups are impacted"
3/ I thought its been clear that we simply don't have enough data to know this yet. Seen reports on both sides
No suprise 2 voices are no are Dingwall and GBD Gupta.
Maajid Nawas also claimed as over 70% have antibodies we already have herd immunity
No suprise 2 voices are no are Dingwall and GBD Gupta.
Maajid Nawas also claimed as over 70% have antibodies we already have herd immunity
https://twitter.com/karamballes/status/1393855159332229126?s=19
4/ I get the feeling the media is going to try to avoid talking about long covid over the next month. Certainly won't be pointing out basic maths that low risk of hospitalisation for under 40s x high transmission can still equal trouble for NHS.
5/ The government announces 2nd jabs will be given 4 weeks earlier, yet too often im hearing people not differentiate between fully and partially vaccinated.
The messaging doesn't do enough to encourage caution
The messaging doesn't do enough to encourage caution
6/ They are ignoring the asthmatics under 40 who missed out on prioritisation,or those with compromised immune systems or certain allergies that means they havent been offered a vaccine
We keep hearing "vulnerable have been protected, but shielding has been removed for these ppl
We keep hearing "vulnerable have been protected, but shielding has been removed for these ppl
7/ Besides the blasé approach to various groups there's also another undercurrent I'm picking up, which is to start blaming communities where vaccine take up is thought to be lower.
Spikes will be dismissed as the fault of communities without enough common sense.
Example.
Spikes will be dismissed as the fault of communities without enough common sense.
Example.
8/Watch some communities get blamed for the growth of B1.617.2, although SAGE has said its seeding across the country and will become dominant, some will seek to shift blame entirely away from the government.
"If not for those pesky demographics"
"If not for those pesky demographics"
9/ If we do get surges of hospitalisation, and it turns put B.1.617.2 does have some vaccine evasion, or younger people are being hospitalised in greater numbers then I wouldnt be suprised if disinformation begins with false claims that all patients are those lacking common sense
10/ Think of something along the lines of "the hospitals are empty" which led to mobs outside hospitals, or the fake nurses accounts thar seemed set up to push a herd immunity narrative.
https://twitter.com/karamballes/status/1252325963582582784?s=19
11/Of course the media will ignore the fact that they have platformed anti lockdown scientists and campaigners who have also pushed anti vax messages.
We've all seen stories of ppl in vulnerable groups dying because they listened to deniers and skeptics and trivialised covid
We've all seen stories of ppl in vulnerable groups dying because they listened to deniers and skeptics and trivialised covid
12/ What hasn't got enough attention is how far right groups have exploited covid skepticism, and are customising their messesaging for different groups.
Example of a leaflet distributed in a predominantly Muslim community
Example of a leaflet distributed in a predominantly Muslim community
13/ The organisation mentioned at the bottom as suggested research sites are plugged into the international skeptic network.
Note one of the final bullet points basically says this is all an Israeli conspiracy theory.
Note one of the final bullet points basically says this is all an Israeli conspiracy theory.
https://twitter.com/bobfrombrockley/status/1385973879294906374?s=19
14/ Encourage one group to not be vaccinated by stiring hate against another group, then blame the first group if they end up in hospital.
I've seen other disinformation tailored for other communities, considering how targeted ads have been used in national votes in recent years
I've seen other disinformation tailored for other communities, considering how targeted ads have been used in national votes in recent years
15/ I dread to think whats flouting around some Facebook groups after being created by people with dangerous motives.
Rather than addressing concerns due to previous clinical crimes against certain communities it won't help if they start to feel targeted.
Rather than addressing concerns due to previous clinical crimes against certain communities it won't help if they start to feel targeted.
16/ But I can see some media outlets going along the lines of:
Vaccination is a form of British value, patriotism, these communities are selfish, unpatriotic...unbritish...the last is likely to be left unsaid but heavily implied.
Vaccination is a form of British value, patriotism, these communities are selfish, unpatriotic...unbritish...the last is likely to be left unsaid but heavily implied.
17/ They'll ignore the fact that even if vaccination is lower in some groups, the vast majority still did get vaccinated.
Plenty of voices in the media have proven they're willing to give a nod to the far right.
Plenty of voices in the media have proven they're willing to give a nod to the far right.
https://twitter.com/karamballes/status/1272607966601056256?s=19
18/ What could possibly go wrong with thinking "all the vulnerable are protected, lets get back to normal"
/End
/End
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1393699856812740608?s=19
Update: Oh look, Telegraph front page for tomorrow.
Hancock says some of those hospitalised weren't vaccinated when they could have been.
The 5 hospitalised after 1 jab, another after 2 jabs, nothing to see there....
Hancock says some of those hospitalised weren't vaccinated when they could have been.
The 5 hospitalised after 1 jab, another after 2 jabs, nothing to see there....
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
