Knowing Well, Being Well: well-being born of understanding: The Urgent Need for Coordinated and Comprehensive Efforts to Combat Misinformation

Abstract

The first Surgeon General's Advisory issued during the Biden Administration was released by Dr. Vivek Murthy in July, 2021 to caution the American public about the urgent threat of health misinformation.[5] The Surgeon General warned that misinformation (ie, information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence available) "can cause confusion, sow mistrust, and undermine public health efforts, including our ongoing work to end the COVID-19 pandemic."[5] Misinformation has also led to the use of unproven - and potentially dangerous - treatments for COVID-19, including ivermectin,[6] an antiparasitic drug used to deworm animals. Misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic has been rampant since the outset,[2] particularly with regard to mask-wearing[1] and vaccines.[1],[3] In fact, the World Health Organization and other global health organizations[4] called on the world leaders and other stakeholders to take action to manage the parallel I infodemic i (ie, overabundance of information that includes incorrect information to undermine the public health response). Community health workers and Covid-19 - addressing social determinants of health in times of crisis and beyond.