There is often a lot of misinformation associated with vaccinations, and this has become more common in recent years.
Misinformation is easily spread and can cause harm if people are unable to tell if it’s verified or not.
Sometimes it’s not easy to tell if something is misinformation or not, but generally speaking, misinformation is false, inaccurate, or misleading information that is mistakenly or accidentally created or spread. It can cause significant damage to society and its people.
With easy access to the internet, anyone can publish information that can be seen by almost anyone. While this can be positive, it also means that incorrect and harmful information can spread quickly.
It is important to understand that not all information online is verified. It can sometimes be hard to know what is credible and what isn’t.
You might see misinformation on social media, in memes, on websites, videos, or in publications, like pamphlets that arrive in your letterbox.
This can cause harm because people might make important decisions based on the incorrect information that they read or hear. For example, it may stop people from receiving safe medical treatment, putting them at higher risk.
Take time and reflect when reading, particularly around health information. If you’re unsure if the content is credible, don’t share it.
It’s important to know where you can go to access reliable information. You can find accurate and reliable information about healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand from sources such as:
- Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand
- Ministry of Health
- Immunisation Advisory Centre
- or from your own doctor, nurse, vaccinator or pharmacist.
If you have any health concerns or would like more information on health services available in Aotearoa New Zealand, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. You can also call Healthline for free on 0800 611 116 for more information.
Health and wellbeing are some of the most important things for our ethnic communities. In 2022, we ran a series of health events across the country, and you told us that you wanted to learn more about health services available in Aotearoa New Zealand.
So, we partnered with Te Whatu Ora to create a series of videos to help explain what measles is, the symptoms of the virus, and how to protect yourself.