Recommendations for verifying information about COVID-19 vaccines. A guide for journalists

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that access to quality information can be a matter of life and death. With a view to providing practical tools for journalists, this guide reveals the mechanisms of disinformation and identifies the most common forms of fake news about COVID-19 vaccines that have circulated and continue to circulate. The content is clear, concise, and relevant, with sections that help to understand how vaccines are made, how to evaluate scientific evidence in a publication, how to present a fact-check, and how to communicate responsibly. The guide includes multiple examples and resources that will orient media professionals in their work on COVID-19.