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One of the first people to be injected as part of UK human trials for a coronavirus vaccine has said it is “fine” after a fake article about her death circulated on social media.
The article claims that microbiologist Dr. Elisa Granato, who participated in the Oxford trial on Thursday, died after complications after taking the vaccine.
Later, the government said the article was “completely false” and warned people about sharing unsubstantiated claims online.
Granato was one of two people who participated in the trial and said she was excited to support the volunteer efforts.
After the article about his “death,” he tweeted about the news before making his Twitter account private. She wrote: “Nothing like waking up to a fake article about his death … I’m fine for everyone.”
Fergus Walsh
(@BBCFergusWalsh)…. and here is Dr. Elisa Granato in person. Alive and well pic.twitter.com/Csw1WqmBQa
Sunday afternoon, the Department of Health and Social Assistance tweeted: “The news circulating on social media that the first volunteer in a UK coronavirus vaccine trial has died is completely untrue.
“Before sharing unsubstantiated claims online, use the Sharing checklist to help stop the spread of harmful content.”
Earlier this month, the government relaunched its public feed campaign Don’t Feed the Beast to encourage people to question what they read online. The Sharing checklist includes basic tips like checking the source of a story and analyzing the facts before sharing.
A rapid response unit operating from the Cabinet Office and No. 10 is addressing a series of fake news and scams online and coordinating with Whitehall departments to implement the appropriate response. This can include direct rebuttal on social media, working with platforms to remove harmful content, and ensuring that public health campaigns are promoted through trusted sources.
The unit is one of the teams that feed on the largest counter-disinformation cell led by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, comprised of experts from across the government and technology sector.
The cell engages with social media platforms and disinformation specialists from civil society and academia to establish a comprehensive overview of the extent, scope and impact of disinformation related to the coronavirus.
A Covid-19 vaccine is considered by many experts to be the ultimate exit strategy from the blockade, and scientists around the world are struggling to develop one that can be produced at scale.
The Oxford Vaccine Group expects to have at least a million doses ready by September.
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