The UK COVID-19 Inquiry aims to tackle social media misinformation affecting vaccine uptake

They’re focusing on how misinformation might have caused vaccine hesitancy. The inquiry is set to learn from the pandemic to improve future public health messaging, especially for hard-to-reach communities.
Kirit Mistry, a COVID champion from Leicester, shared his experience trying to combat misinformation in his community. He noted that a lot of false information was circulating, especially from their home countries.
He mentioned how some people blamed the vaccine for losing loved ones, which made it tough to change their minds. Kirit faced challenges due to the lack of clear information from the government, which allowed misinformation to thrive.
His own family was affected, with his brother hesitant about getting vaccinated because of what he heard. Unfortunately, Kirit’s twin brother, Keval, caught the virus and ended up in intensive care, battling long COVID.
Now, Keval struggles with daily tasks and feels anxious in social situations. He used to be active, but now he finds it hard to walk and needs help with chores. The impact of long COVID has changed his life significantly, making him more cautious around others.