Coronavirus Australia: Fake news triumphs amid stingy ad spend

New analysis shows the federal government has spent just $32,000 on digital ads promoting the Covid vaccine.

The federal government has spent just $32,000 on digital advertising promoting the uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine, sparking concerns that a barrage of misinformed social media posts have been able to gain traction during the pandemic.

The new analysis comes as the anti-vaccination movement has seized on comments from Queensland’s chief health officer Jeanette Young that she did not want under-40s to receive the ­AstraZeneca vaccine to bolster claims the jab is dangerous as they mount a campaign against the mandatory vaccination of aged-care workers.

As the states have ramped up pressure on the federal government over the slow vaccine rollout, new analysis by digital marketing platform Pathmatics has revealed that the federal government has spent only $32,000 on digital ads relating to vaccines out of a total spend of $3m on Covid-19 campaigns between April 2020 and last month.

At the same time Facebook and Instagram have removed more than 18 million pieces of misinformation on Covid-19 and the vaccine, including 110,000 from accounts or pages specific to Australia.

Twitter has removed 3900 ­pieces of content, including more than 50 from Australian accounts, and suspended 600 users, including 10 from Australia.

The nation’s vaccine rollout surpassed 8.2 million doses on Monday as the federal government faced sustained attack from the opposition and the states over its speed and failure to combat doubt around the jab.

Australian Medical Association vice president Chris Moy said what was needed was a clear campaign that focused on the community good of vaccines and said hesitancy had been encouraged by incoherent and rapidly changing messaging.

“What has been allowed to flourish is internal worries and anxieties and people have not been able to get to the next stage where they get the vaccine and move forward,” Dr Moy said.

“We need education about the vaccine and the benefits, not just benefits for them but the benefits for the community.”

Dr Young’s comments last week that she did not want 18-year-olds dying from blood clots have been shared by anti-vaxxers and Covid-19 sceptics in videos and posts across social media.

One Facebook user shared a video of Dr Young’s comments on the page of Australians V the Agenda, which in February organised protests of thousands against the Covid-19 vaccine across Australia.

The post said: “That’s right folks, you are hearing it from the mouth of our health minister (sic) … put your health on the line for a vaccine that could potentially harm you.”

Former One Nation senator and prominent anti-vaxxer Rod Culleton shared a news article link of Dr Young’s comments with the caption: “The FACTS, their words, not ours! The chances of someone under 40 dying from the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the chances of dying from Covid!”

He then shared a video of her comments and said: “Dr Young is concerned about people dying from the vaccine”.

Dr Young last Wednesday went against the federal government’s advice when she said under 40s should wait for Pfizer.

The reaction to Dr Young’s comments comes as the anti-vaccination movement attempts to mount a campaign against mandatory jabs for aged-care workers.

A spokesman for the federal Department of Health said $41m had been spent educating the public about the vaccine rollout. “The department is not able to provide the amount spent on advertising as it is commercial in confidence, however social is a channel that we have used significantly throughout the campaign,” he said.