BBC defends Panorama episode debunking anti-vax theories about coronavirus vaccination

The BBC has defended a Panorama episode which debunked false claims about the coronavirus vaccine.

This week, a Panorama episode titled ‘Vaccines: The Disinformation War,’ aired, investigating ‘scare tactics’ from anti-vaxxers, and the reasons why some of them feel they should deter people from getting the jab.

The broadcaster has since published a response after receiving complaints ‘from viewers who felt the programme was biased against those with concerns over the Covid-19 vaccines.’

The response reads: ‘The programme investigated how false and misleading information about both the coronavirus and the Covid-19 vaccines is being disseminated online and the impact it can have on people with a range of concerns about having the jab.

‘Early in the programme we heard from Dr David Turner, who said that he had heard many understandable concerns from people as they were preparing to take the vaccine. We also heard from Dr Mary Ramsay, who is Head of Immunisation at Public Health England, who explained it is not unexpected for people to have questions about the vaccine, but that doctors and nurses should be able to give them the answers to their questions.’

The response continued: ‘Panorama also examined a video titled ‘Ask the Experts’, which has been widely criticised by the general scientific community and has been removed from social media sites for spreading disinformation about Covid-19 and the vaccines.

‘We carried out an experiment in which we asked a panel of volunteers, who were unsure about whether to receive the vaccine, to watch the video and then share their thoughts. They explained their concerns in the programme.

‘Professor Liam Smeeth, a GP and Head of Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who had studied the findings of the vaccine trials was on hand to answer any medical questions arising out of the experiment. He agreed that a little bit of caution is understandable, however he said the benefits outweigh the risks.

‘We also heard from people who have participated in anti-lockdown/anti-vaccine protests, including Kate Shemirani who also featured in the ‘Ask the Experts’ video. All of the participants of the video had been invited to respond to the programme, 11 did and our reporter reflected their positions. We also reached out to the production company behind the video, which declined to comment on the contents of the video.

‘We consider the worries and fears that some may have about the Covid-19 vaccines were properly presented in the programme, and every individual that featured was given sufficient time to put their points across. However there is an overwhelming scientific consensus regarding the benefits of the vaccinations, and we’re satisfied this was reflected throughout the programme.’

Various forms of the coronavirus vaccine are being rolled out across the UK, with the elderly and vulnerable being prioritised.

Early data has already shown a reduction in hospital admissions and deaths in those who have had the jab.

Ministers have been given preliminary data comparing elderly people who have received the jab, with those who have not.

It suggests vaccines are cutting illness by about two thirds, while a separate study indicates the injections are reducing transmission of the virus, The Times reports.

A Public Health England spokesperson said: ‘It is too early to draw firm conclusions from our surveillance programme.

‘We have been analysing the data since the start of the vaccination programme rollout and will publish our findings in due course.’

Panorama: Vaccines: The Disinformation War is available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer.

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