Anti-Vaxxers targeted at CALD communities

Anti-Vaxxers targeted at CALD communities

There is evidence that CALD communities are being targeted by anti-vaccination groups. Researcher Dr Kaz Ross of the University of Tasmania indicated that anti-vaccination groups targeted CALD community leaders and communities which had little access to government Covid-19 information to promote their views. It is clear that local government areas such as Hume, Brimbank, Darebin and Melton in Melbourne which is home to large diverse communities, have the lowest vaccination rates in Victoria.

The current approach of translating government information into different languages without considering how to effectively communicating to the relevant groups is not working. Most of these information factsheets can be downloaded from various government websites. The government also added captions to some Youtube information videos or producing promotional messages in different languages. However, most of this information is scarcely downloaded or viewed. The reason is simple. The information failed to be distributed effectively to the CALD communities.

Dr Ross pointed out that anti-vaxxers have targeted these communities. They often appeared to be kind and compassionate people presenting balanced information when they actually presenting anti-vaccine disinformation.

“Melbourne’s northern suburbs, they hang around those places, they stick up fake QR codes, so that if people think that they’re QR coding into the supermarket [but] they’re actually clicking through to an anti-vax site,” she said.

Dr Ross believed those spreading misinformation had tailored their messaging for diverse communities who felt marginalised by government and media.

“If these communities felt included and listened to and heard, and resourced and supported, then it would be much easier to combat the efforts of the anti-vaxxers,” she said

Community advocate and director of Youth Activating Youth, Ahmed Hassan, said diverse communities were being influenced by anti-vax messaging despite the efforts of authorities.

“There’s been videos circulating that have gone viral to parents — that this [vaccination] is part of a thing to target Muslim or multicultural communities, at the end of the day.”

Mr Hassan said the confusion has led to some people refusing to test, and falsely claim the vaccine wasn’t effective and COVID-19 wasn’t real.

It is clear that anti-vax groups are causing more distrust, more angst and fear. And confusion in the community, which is not needed in a time when we need a unified approach.

Regards,

Raymond Chow

Publisher, BlessingCALD