PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness is working to prevent misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. As the department says, the origins of the myths are both foreign and domestic.
"It's definitely a concern, it's definitely a problem," said director Jared Maples, about a huge online misinformation campaign about the COVID-19 vaccine. He said there's an uptick in narratives spewing false information.
"One is that the vaccine can kill you. That's just untrue at this point," he said. "Number two is that the vaccinations would change your DNA strain. There's a lot of science behind this obviously... it does not alter your DNA and the third one is that it would give you coronavirus. It's not a live vaccine. It's targeted in a different way."
Maples says the myths are being created by "bad actors" domestically and internationally operating through social media accounts or text messaging, via troll farms or state intelligence.
"To them, that narrative helps their cause which is to drive chaos, and try to bring about the changes in a negative to our system of government and how we operate," he said.
The only way we can get back on track, said Maples, is "getting to a scenario where we can get back on our feet... and that leads to the vaccine taking hold and getting to herd immunity."
His advice is to know your sources. "Get your information from proper government resources, legitimate government accounts and then a credentialed and accredited media," he urged.
"The narrative has to be that people need to think critically for themselves and think through what they are hearing. When you getting your information to make those decisions to protect your family or community make sure you're getting it right from the right resource."
The Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness has more info on its website.
