COVID and Conspiracy theories !

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The Covid Conspiracy Theories In India The world has been caught in the throes of the Covid Pandemic for the last couple of years. Collaborative contemplation, research and development of vaccines based on the limited knowledge of the causative agent -the Coronavirus was done globally as well as indigenously in India in an effort to curb the pandemic and create community immunity, Effect of Covid in India India, the second most affected country by the pandemic globally, had the ensuing lockdowns, guidelines, mandates and immunization drive in response to the Covid ! Moreover, in India we not only suffered the loss of precious human lives but were vulnerable to severe economic repercussions brought on by the two lockdowns that formed a part of containment measures of the disease. The most unprotected and economically insecure people particularly affected by the lockdowns were not only the 20 percent of households which relied on casual employment but also the large number of people working in the informal sector of India, where about 80 percent of the total workforce contributes to over 50 percent of India's gross domestic product . Reasons for Covid Conspiracy Theories The fluid nature of emergent science, involvement of big philanthropic institutions, huge bio-pharmaceutical companies, famous personalities, lack of transparency of the research involved in the making of Covid vaccines and results of their trials outlining their efficacy and effects on the health of human population; coupled with misrepresentation of facts -magnified by the social media, lead to an abundance of several conspiratorial theories! Spreading Misinformation Driven by Personal agendas and greed, certain politicians in India, dubbed the life saving, indigenously developed and manufactured Covid vaccines as a gimmick of the central government of India. As if Lockdowns and human fatalities were not enough, a kind of targeted misinformation started making rounds in India using the all pervasive social media.They went as far as to advise the general public against the Central Governments immunization programme against Covid.
Psychological Effect of Covid Controversies Playing with the psychology of people searching desperately for solutions to curb if not end the pandemic, social media in general with WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube being used most extensively as tools to spread misinformation. People were advised to drink warm water and local herbal concoctions. They were advised to consume health and immunity boosters which had none or very little scientifically proven data that guaranteed the ability to do so. The most dangerous conspiracy spread within the country was the questions raised on the existence of COVID itself. Lack of knowledge more so that of science, along with loss of – employment, loved family members preyed on the human psyche along with inundation of unscientific videos on YouTube and Facebook posts spreading misinformation and fake messages made people deluded into thinking that there’s nothing like Coronavirus. Efforts To Stem Covid Controversy In India A delayed yet much needed effort on the part of the Central Government of India was put in place ; whereby prominent physicians both Indian as well as from other developed countries , discussed and spoke on all aspects of Covid on radios and television at prime time. They spoke on the immense benefits of the immunization programme, emphasizing particularly on the reduction of fatalities in the aged and disease prone people- those with comorbidities. The population was continually reminded to use masks, washing hands and maintaining safe distance, among other things. References https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/papers/covid-19-lockdown-in-india-impact-on-the-poor-and-the-governments-response/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.dw.com/en/india-covid-misinformation/a-57414876 https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.economictimes.com/tech/technology/misinformation-linked-to-covid-19-vaccines-still-a-concern-in-india/amp_articleshow/85080966.cms https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/06/09/fauci-blasts-preposterous-covid-conspiracies-accuses-critics-of-attacks-on-science.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57336280.amp https://archive.is/kgwEx#selection-612.0–612.1 https://www.factcheck.org/2021/03/scicheck-instagram-post-misrepresents-fda-document-about-monitoring-vaccine-safety/ https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/covid-19-conspiracy-theories-mostly-spread-through-youtube-and-facebook-says-study-1690686-2020-06-19

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