Were you coerced and manipulated to take the vaccine by one of these tactics?

BY AMANDA WILLIAMS

The World Economic Forum (WEF) suggests that 60-70% of the population needs to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to reach global herd immunity. While other professionals claim that people can achieve herd immunity naturally, we take a closer look at an article the WEF released suggesting three tactics governments and health officials can use to tackle vaccine hesitancy.

The article states that “advertising theory” can be used to “get sceptics through the door of local vaccination centres.” The Hierarchy of Effect Framework suggests that customers think, then feel, then do. If we apply this framework to COVID-19, the goal is to make patients think about the vaccine, improve their feelings around it, and eventually get the vaccine.

In the “think” stage, the WEF suggests ways to increase knowledge, overcome misinformation, and make the patient think about getting the vaccine. Advertisements encouraging vaccination have been pushed on the public through various media outlets, including radio, television, and billboards.

The city of Toronto took this step further by partnering up with 280 neighbourhood ambassadors and other organizations to help promote vaccines in their area. The city also invested $6.8M in the Black Community COVID-19 Response Plan to support high-risk communities. Part of that plan was to reduce vaccine hesitancy, address misformation and conspiracy theories through a series of town hall meetings held by the Black Scientist Task Force.

The second step, or the “feel” stage, is to improve feelings around the vaccine. Through repetitive advertisements and slogans, the public is convinced that they are “doing their part” by getting vaccinated and making them feel good about their decision. Another strategy is to play into the fear of missing out (FOMO), whether socially or economically, a method being used by public health officials, and political leaders. They are suggesting that you will not be able to travel or have access to “non-essential” services without being vaccinated.

How many people have you heard say they would take the inoculation because they want to travel or partake in certain activities? Are you one of them?

The final “do” stage suggests that enhancing convenience and using incentives can facilitate action (in other words get more people vaccinated). Numerous clinics have popped up in high-risk neighbourhoods throughout the GTA, targeting Black, racialized, lower-income, and materially deprived communities. Ontario public health has taken a more assertive approach by going door-to-door offering vaccines in co-op or low-income communities.

Vaccine recipients were offered free patties and chicken soup at the Jamaican Canadian Association pop-up clinic and free Harvey’s burgers at another location. A pop-up clinic at Nathan Phillips Square used free ice cream to lure twelve to seventeen-year-olds to get vaccinated without parental consent. This particular event enraged many parents who responded by protesting at various pop-up clinics.

Other companies and organizations across Canada have also contributed to vaccine propaganda by offering free candy, food discounts, free admission to museums, full-term tuition funds, grants, cash incentives, and other lotteries. In the United States, incentives include free donuts, beer, fishing and hunting licenses, discounted attractions, Super Bowl tickets, and even free uber rides to and from vaccination sites.

The WEF admits that people are primarily hesitant due to the rushed invention and approval processes and other concerns of underreported side effects of the vaccine. Despite efforts to promote the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, the number of deaths and adverse effects has been growing, and people are watching public databases such as VAERS, the Yellow Card scheme, CANVAS, and VaxxTracker closely. In addition to the information available on these sites, people have legitimate reasons to feel hesitant; the vaccine is still in the trials phase, is not approved by the FDA, and no long-term data is available to prove it is safe and effective.

Government and health officials seem to have accepted and implemented all three tactics successfully, suggesting that the WEF may have more influence on global COVID-19 measures than most realize. Many of the mentioned tactics are examples of manipulation and coercion, and coercion is not informed consent. Informed consent is essential when making potentially life-altering decisions.

Did you decide to get vaccinated on your own, or were you coerced and manipulated by one of these tactics?