Misleading: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison blames citizens for COVID-19 vaccine-related deaths.

By: Pallavi Sethi
September 6 2021

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Morrison's words were taken out of context when he explained the process of informed consent in a vaccination program.A viral Facebook video, shared over 5,000 times, is stoking fear around the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The post fails to provide context and falsely claims that Scott Morrison, Australia's prime minister, has blamed citizens for dying from the COVID-19 vaccine. While answering a press member's question, Morisson explains the process of informed consent in a vaccination program. He states that the Australian healthcare system allows citizens to consult their GPs and understand the full side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. He emphasizes that Australia does not have a mandatory vaccination program and that every citizen can choose to receive a vaccine. In addition, Morisson states that once an individual provides consent to undergo treatment, they "make decisions about their own health and their own bodies." However, at no point does he blame citizens for dying from the vaccine. From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been widespread medical misinformation regarding the virus and the vaccine. The anti-vax community has regularly propagated false claims about the vaccine. However, world-leading organizations – such as the World Health Organization – have implemented "standards to ensure" that the available COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective. According to the New York Times, as of September 6, 2021, more than 5.41 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.