COVID-19: Snapchat and TikTok encourage young people to get vaccinated, as 1 million jabs are reserved over a two-day period | UK News

Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok and Reddit are involved in a new campaign encouraging more young people to get the coronavirus vaccine.

Social media have partnered with the government as it moves into the final phase of vaccine deployment.

New data shows a million vaccine appointments have been booked within two days after the NHS started offering COVID-19 injections to everyone over 18 in England.

Although Health Secretary Matt Hancock praised “the continued enthusiasm of young people for vaccines,” data suggests Britons aged 16 to 29 have the highest levels of vaccine reluctance.

According to the Office for National Statistics, 13% of people in this age group are not sure if they will receive a jab, despite the fact that the virus is spreading fastest among the youngest in the country.

It is hoped that collaboration with social networks will help prevent the spread of disinformation.

Snapchat users will be able to use new NHS stickers and a filter that says “I had my vaccine”.

There will also be links to reliable sources of information on how the jab works, and a series of questions and answers with medical experts will be held on the Prime Minister’s Snapchat account.

TikTok is also rolling out vaccine stickers and working with a group of scientists who use the video-sharing site to share clips on the jab.

However, Facebook and Instagram – two of the biggest social networks in terms of users – are not among the platforms involved in the government campaign.

Dr Karan Rangarajan, surgeon and NHS influencer who has 3.9 million subscribers on TikTok, said: “Misinformation affects all groups equally and there is a large user base that is at the end of the line. adolescence or early twenties.

“They are also in the UK the last cohort to be eligible for the vaccine, so this is a very important group to target.”

He also warned that the most “dangerous and powerful” combination of misinformation occurs when lies embroiled some …