COVID-19 AWARENESS, ONLINE DISCOURSE, AND VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN MELANESIA - Evidence and Analysis from

Covid-19 Awareness & Public Perceptions in Papua New Guinea The perception survey carried out by the Asia Foundation and Tebutt Research indicates that there was some level of awareness of Covid-19 in all regions of Papua New Guinea, but that demographic factors affected both the degree to which they understood the threat of the virus and the ways in which they accessed information. [...] Peddlers of unscientific “cures” such as bleach and antimalarial drugs; racial profiling of people of Asian descent; suggestions that the pandemic is an “act of God” and the people dying are purging the earth; and speculation about the unique strength of the Papua New Guinean immune system all found an enthusiastic audience in large Facebook groups in the country. [...] 42 C O V I D - 1 9 AWA R E N E S S , O N L I N E D I S C O U R S E , A N D VA C C I N E D I S T R I B U T I O N I N M E L A N E S I A Covid-19 Awareness & Public Perceptions in Vanuatu The survey results in Vanuatu show a high degree of concern around Covid-19 and relatively high awareness of the pandemic, despite no cases of infection having been identified in Vanuatu at the time. [...] Perhaps the most significant aspect of the 2021 conversation, and the one with the most risk when it comes to the potential for confusion and even disinformation, relates to the rollout of vaccines. [...] Pacific leaders and international stakeholders E V I D E N C E & A N A LY S I S F R O M F I J I , PA P U A N E W G U I N E A , A N D VA N U AT U 55 should study the impacts of the Covid-19 infodemic and develop proactive approaches to the threat of anti-vaccine mis- and disinformation in the region.