MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Facebook, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), today announced new tools that will help connect users to credible information about COVID-19 vaccines and show their support for the country’s vaccination drive.
As the Philippines continues to roll out its COVID-19 vaccination program, people have a number of questions about vaccine eligibility and appointments. Starting July 23, an in-feed notification will connect users to the DOH information center. It provides details on vaccine eligibility, including steps on how to sign-up for slots in their local community. The information center also helps easily address the various questions users may have on how, where, and when to be vaccinated.
“As access to COVID-19 vaccines expands, we’re partnering with the DOH to provide tools on Facebook in the Philippines, so people can check if they are eligible to get the vaccine, and where they can get vaccinated. This campaign provides a link to the DOH website where they can get authoritative information on vaccines,” said Clare Amador, Philippine Head of Public Policy at Facebook.
Facebook is also introducing new COVID-19 vaccine profile frames today. Research shows that social norms can have a major impact on people’s attitudes and behaviors when it comes to their health. People are more likely to get a vaccine when they see someone they trust doing it. The “I got my COVID-19 vaccine” and “Let’s get vaccinated” profile picture frames will allow individuals to show their support for the country’s vaccination drive and even encourage their families and communities to do the same.
“By leveraging Facebook’s platform, tools, and reach, we are doubling our efforts to ensure Filipinos get access to credible information that will facilitate informed decisions to get vaccinated with safe, effective, and free COVID-19 vaccines,“ said Dr. Beverly Ho, Director of DOH Health Promotion Bureau.
Last April, Facebook launched a COVID-19 public education campaign in APAC, that aimed to equip people with the skills to spot misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines. In the Philippines, the campaign ran ads on Facebook and Instagram, educating users through tips on how to spot COVID-19 misinformation online. As a result, data from April 7 to July 7, 2021 has shown that the ads reached over 40.8 million people–more than 54% of the target population. From this pool, 85% were under the age of 45, with 50% of the same population being female and 49% being male. Overall, the ads had more than 180 million impressions in the said period alone.
“Since the pandemic began, Facebook has removed more than 18 million pieces of content on Facebook and Instagram for violating COVID-19 and vaccine policies. Warning labels have also been applied to over 167 million posts marked as false by third-party fact-checkers,” Ms. Amador said.
To find out more about this campaign and Facebook’s new tools, visit https://fightcovidmisinfo.com.
