‘Clearly trying to deceive’: Misleading anti-vaxx leaflets condemned

Richard Youle, local democracy reporter

A misleading leaflet which claims that people vaccinated against the coronavirus are a danger to others has been condemned.

The yellow leaflet with black writing has been posted through letterboxes in the Manselton area of Swansea, and claims to be from the UK Government.

Cllr Peter Black, whose ward covers Manselton, said the leaflet was attempting to cause panic and discourage people from getting vaccinated.

“It is clearly trying to deceive by masquerading as an official leaflet and that is what is most concerning, especially with vaccination rates stalling,” said Cllr Black.

Public Health Wales said vaccines were safe, effective and prevented hospitalisations and deaths.

It said people who have had Covid-19 should still get vaccinated because it did not yet know the length of immune response in those who’ve had the disease.

The vaccines being used in the UK have all approved by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

The leaflet also says the effectiveness of vaccines is declining or disappearing.

Some decline in protection has been identified in a study of the two main vaccines in the UK – Pfizer and AstraZenenca – but experts said this was not unexpected.

The study, published in August, included data on positive Covid PCR test results between May and July among more than a million people who had received two doses of the two vaccines.

‘Protection’ 

It found that protection after two shots of Pfizer decreased from 88% at one month to 74% at five to six months. The fall for AstraZeneca was from 77% to 67% at four to five months.

Booster jabs are to be offered to those more at risk from serious disease, and those who were vaccinated during the first phase of the vaccine programme.

Every child in the UK aged 12 to 15 is being offered a single Pfizer vaccination dose.

Swansea Bay University Health Board urged the public to get their facts from reliable sources, such as Public Health Wales.

A health board spokesman said: “We’re aware of fake vaccine information being sent to some households in the Swansea area by anti-vaccine groups aiming to spread fear, division and mistrust.”