US Surgeon General Urges Americans to Fight Health Misinformation

The United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, cited health misinformation as a significant threat to the health and safety of all Americans. The physician and vice admiral in the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps noted that the rapid spread of false data about COVID-19 has put many lives at risk and has hindered efforts to end the pandemic. In a brief issued July 15, Murthy asked that all Americans work to stop the spread of health information; he advised against sharing health information without supporting evidence. The brief was issued in light of the fact that only one-third of the US population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 despite widespread availability of immunizations. COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in US regions with low vaccination rates. Click here to read more.