The subtle art of disinformation

The above advert being run by the NHS is a perfect example of the way the public is being misled about Covid. NOTHING in this ad is accidental.

Winter Strong - implying Covid is seasonal, this is not true, waves have been one after the other for the last four years with no seasonal pattern

Covid and Flu - conflating the two things together implying they are similar. This is not true, Flu can be severe but doess not exhibit anything like the range and incidence of long term harm that Covid does

Get Vaccinated - this implies UKHSA are trying to protect public health and doing everything they can to encourage uptake of vaccines. This is not true, vaccine eligibility has become tighter and tighter throughout the last 4 years, children have never been offered vaccines, we are one of the few countries not to do this, even people with Long Covid are not included in the groups allowed boosters - this is a disgrace. If UKHSA was non political they would be explaining that Covid is surging and is airborne and not have removed mask mandates in health settings

Vulnerable / “for some people” - the notes on the advert urge people in vulnerable groups to get vaccinated. This implies, in fact states, that it is mainly vulnerable groups who are at risk, mainly ‘old’ people, this is a key element of human psychology, the ability to ‘other’ a problem - Covid will affect other people, I will be fine. This is not true, everyone is at risk from repeated Covid infections.

General - the whole ad is not a public health warning, it is a business as usual communication, there are some nasty bugs in the winter so get vaccinated and everything will be fine, you will be ‘strong’.

Also frequently used:

During the pandemic - implies the pandemic is over

For some, covid symptoms can last weeks or months after infection - compare with the truth - over 90% of people who have suffered Long Covid have never recovered

Most people recover from Covid in a week or two - the effects of the initial infection can pass quickly but Covid causes long term damage to every system in your body

Deaths / hospitalisations are falling / have stabilised

The main goal here is to get you to focus on immediate harm and death, which is falling because it is advantageous for a virus not to kill the host quickly and so it has evolved in that way. You absolutely must not focus on the fact that for most people the real danger is long term. (this said, we still have 2,000 people a month dying from Covid which should be shocking but which we have been told to ‘just get used to’)