False information about coronavirus vaccines has been circulating on social media since the beginning of the pandemic. With the rollout of mass vaccinations, rumours about vaccines are spreading even faster.
In January, it was reported that pamphlets urging people to avoid using masks had started appearing in residential mailboxes in the southwestern Finnish city of Turku. The pamphlet aimed to convince readers that the coronavirus is a scam and part of a conspiracy intended to hamper people’s fundamental rights.
According to Yle, there is some suspicion of the side-effects of coronavirus vaccines, including among immigrant communities in Finland. This is particularly unfortunate because it increases vaccine resistance.
Muhis Azizi, Chair of the City of Turku's Multiculturalism Council, confirmed that many immigrants are concerned about the link between the coronavirus vaccine and infertility in particular.
Despite attempts by mainstream media outlets to tackle the rumours, they are widely circulated on social media and satellite television channels, which is the primary source of information for many in the immigrant community.
"I have heard people saying women who take the AstraZeneca vaccine can become infertile. Many men have asked me if this is true. One person told me the vaccine information says if you want to have children, you need to wait two months after having the jab," says Azizi.
"No evidence" vaccine affects fertility
Some of the fears are completely unfounded, but some of them have a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Jutta Peltoniemi, Turku's chief physician for infectious diseases knows immediately where the two-month time limit refers to.
"The vaccine manufacturer has recommended that those who get the vaccine should not try to become pregnant immediately after. However, this is an extreme precaution. The vaccine itself does not make it difficult to have a baby, but the guidance is about maximising safety," she stated.
"There is no evidence that the coronavirus vaccine affects fertility," she added.
Peltoniemi also said that the coronavirus vaccines have undergone the same safety studies as other vaccines -- but on a faster schedule. The safety of vaccines is closely monitored.
The Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea will update the vaccine instructions if something out of the ordinary is detected.
A need for multilingual vaccine information
Many cities in Finland have been cooperating with organisations working with immigrants throughout the pandemic. Information leaflets and communications have been made available in different languages to ensure the message reaches as many people as possible.
Muhis Azizi believes well-known members of immigrant communities should be approached to get the message even further.
"It would be a good idea to make short videos in several languages on why it is important to take the vaccine. And what the consequences may be if people choose not to have it," he said.
To ensure as many people as possible receive up-to-date and reliable information on the coronavirus situation in Finland, Yle began reporting news in Arabic, Kurdish, Persian and Somali in March.