Vaccine News Hoax Causes New Variant To Emerge COVID-19

COVID-19 Handling Task Force Expert Team Leader Prof Wiku Adisasmito/ Antara

JAKARTA - Circulating information about a vaccine that triggers a new variant of the Corona virus and the cause of death was denied by the Chair of the Expert Team for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito. Wiku said that information stating that the COVID-19 vaccine could cause death within two years and trigger a new variant of the corona virus was a hoax.

"Regarding Luc Montagnier's statement that everyone who is vaccinated will die within two years is not true. The quote was mistakenly linked in a fake news meme that has been circulating widely," said Wiku Adisasmito virtually from BNPB's YouTube in Jakarta, Tuesday 03 August .

Said Wiku, the World Health Organization (WHO), explaining that vaccination cannot cause the corona virus to mutate into a new variant.

"Mutations occur when viruses reproduce in living hosts. In vaccines, the viruses used are viruses that have been killed, viruses that are not intact and viruses that have been designed in such a way that they cannot reproduce in the body," explained Wiku.

Meanwhile, hoaxes regarding COVID-19 that have been spreading so far, Wiku asked the public to be selective and wise in choosing and sharing information.

"It is important to know that hoaxes can reduce public confidence in the efforts to handle the pandemic by the government and the community together," he said.

Wiku said, the public was asked to continue to support the government's policies in the overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The combination of 3M health protocols (wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands), 3T (testing, tracing and treatment) and vaccinations are urgently needed at this time.

Wiku added that the government has distributed more than 7 million masks since July 3, 2021.

"In addition to vaccines, the government also distributes vitamins to the community, thickening centralized isolation facilities in Greater Jakarta together with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) as many as 17,941 beds have been available," explained Wiku.