In age of technology, misinformation is rapidly spreading.

Like what the article above that said

two little girls from Gold Coast, Australia have died in the waiting room of the clinic after taking a Pfizer
vaccine which is false. This misinformation happens because of anti-vaxxers made a false report and
posting on social media like Facebook as such, and wrong claimed by supposedly eyewitnesses. This led
to the pull out of vaccines. The doctor of the clinic said that the girls have only suffered “normal”
fainting while under observation and are safe.

This misinformation has possibly done because of false claim or not fully informed witnesses
about the situation and have just assumed the worst. It can be seen on the tweet extract from Krystle
Lee Candy and a statement from a mum that was on the Pacific Pines MedCentre where the supposed
death happens, because of panic, they reported false information to the public in Facebook and
Tweeter.

According to Dr. Chin, the doctor the administered the vaccine to the two girls, they have only
suffered “normal” fainting episode while under observation at the clinic and have since recovered (Irish
Examiner, 2022). According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through continued
safety monitoring, COVID-19 vaccination has been found to be safe for children and teens (CDC, 2022).
They recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older to get COVID-19 vaccines and everyone ages 5
years and older for booster (CDC, 2022).

With this misinformation or fake news to people, some will believe it. This can cause impacts like
in this misinformation about vaccine, the vaccination will slow down as people will not be willing
anymore to do vaccination for their children. This will also create widespread panic and riots against the
government and the medical officials receiving death threats like what happen in this misinformation
about the death of two girls because of vaccine.

As a student of STS, I can or will make sure that what I see or hear on the internet or television, I
must first fact checked it to other sources before I conclude my view or decision about the information
that I have receive. I also do s subscription on an application like Oigetit that filter and fact-checked
articles and will send a copy to you. It I and our responsibilities as a student of STS to fight
disinformation and fake news by teaching others on how to fight it or make a more reliable technology
or application that can filter and fact-checked news articles to mark those article that spread
disinformation and fake news.

Reference/s:

(Guardian), C. C. (2022, February 1). Australian GP receives death threats from 'anti-vaxxers' after false
claim of child vaccine deaths. Irish Examiner. From https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-
40797714.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Covid-19 vaccine safety in children and teens. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. From
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-safety-children-teens.html
Two little girls dead after jab on Gold Coast. Cairns News. (2022, January 28). From
https://cairnsnews.org/2022/01/28/two-little-girls-dead-after-jab-on-gold-coast/