**5. Dealing with the myths around COVID-19 vaccines**

The information warfare was huge as COVID-19 spreads globally and its attempt to influence or derail public action will not be easily forgotten as WHO and governments battled to keep the situation under control. There was excessive amount of information on COVID-19, which were positive and negative and this made it difficult for people to know what to believe and what not to believe and most importantly, knowing how to navigate through the troubled waters of COVID-19 era [1, 31]. The infodemic had serious effect on public health globally, more so as nations around the world introduced various levels of national, regional and community lockdowns, which restricted people's movements. Staying at home made people to spend more time on social media as platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook etc. became sources of information and news with lots of texts and videos circulated continuously [32].

People around the world then had to deal with this massive amount of medical misinformation, rumour, myths and different kinds of conspiracy theories often disseminated through social media platforms and other media outlets. In South Africa, the government, through the numerous President's 'Family Meeting' speeches and other Ministerial Briefings moved with speed to quash the effects of the various myths and misinformation [9]. For instance, the President in his speeches quelled the various COVID-19 vaccine myths and facts such as the one that says that 'vaccines are unsafe and normal safety protocols have been circumvented to fast track their authorisation for use'. The South African government on its website also debunked this myth by nothing that the fast development and approval of vaccines is a great human feat worthy as the world has learnt over many decades how to make and test vaccines, which has helped to produce a vaccine much quicker. The website also noted that no step in the development, testing or ratification of the COVID-19 vaccines has been skipped. As noted by the President and also documented on the South African government website, the world was able to develop vaccines fast because scientists and governments around the world collaborated and pooled resources and information together to achieve this laudable feat [33].

Other myth that states that the vaccine will change people's DNA was also rejected as the government noted that vaccines work by stimulating the body the same way the virus would if someone were infected. The government notes that the vaccine releases certain chemicals that start a chain reaction to make immune cells that can fight the real virus and that the vaccine does not work on people's DNA [34]. Another myth that became scary was the one that stated that vaccines contain a form of microchip that will be used to track and control individuals [35]. This myth also caused panic globally and it made many people to be sceptical about taking the vaccine. The government however moved to dispel this by noting that the vaccine does not contain any microchip and that receiving a vaccine will not allow people to be tracked or have their personal information entered into a database. There is also the myth that governments around the world are complicit with big businesses in pushing vaccines despite the risks involved. People felt that the governments are pushing the vaccine drive because monetary rewards that will accrue to them but the WHO and governments around the world were quick to say that the commitment is to save lives and livelihoods [11, 36]. The South African government also added that the fastest way to ensure that life is back to normal is through ensuring that the majority of the population are fully vaccinated and thus protected from the virus. Another myth noted that the vaccines have the mark of the Beast – 666 but this was also quickly refuted as WHO clarified that the vaccines have no connection with any religious organisations and beliefs and cannot therefore be infused with spirits, demons or other abstract ingredients [11].
