Singapore — On Sunday (Nov 7), the Ministry of Health issued a statement noting that content from a group called “Healing the Divide” had been removed from YouTube.
Group called out by MOH for COVID falsehood claims ‘We see ourselves as Intelligent Vaxxers’
MOH wrote that the group, which was founded by a woman named Iris Koh, “adopts an anti-vaccination stance and claims to warn people about the dangers of vaccination.”
The ministry added that the “Healing the Divide” YouTube channel “has a history of posting and sharing content that perpetuates falsehoods and misleading information about COVID-19 and vaccines.”
MOH also warned that the government will not hesitate to take “action against those who put the public’s health and well-being at risk by spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines.”
MOH welcomed the takedown of the group’s content and pointed out that Ms Koh’s Facebook account had been suspended more than once.
Shortly after MOH published its statement, “Healing the Divide” took to its website to respond.
Ms Koh wrote that contrary to what MOH had written, the group is not anti-vaccination and that there are many who are vaccinated within the group.
“In fact, we see ourselves as Intelligent Vaxxers!,” Ms Koh added.
She also claimed that the vaccinated individuals within the group have “either suffered from injuries after taking the vaccines or have loved ones who died after taking the vaccine.”
Ms Koh alleged that there are also “Super-Vaxxers!” within the group who are vaccinated medical professionals who have administered vaccines to others, but they are concerned over losing their jobs if they refuse the booster jab as well as over their children if they do not get the Covid vaccine.
“I mean who wants to be highlighted in the media every few weeks for being an Anti-Vaxxer? Let’s be clear. We are not here to oppose the government etc. We only want to protect ourselves, our children and our loved ones. Is this wrong?” she added.
“In fact, we see ourselves as Intelligent Vaxxers!”
Ms Koh went on to quote Law Minister K Shanmugam, who has said that the final arbiter of truth is the Court, and not a social media platform such as YouTube.
She also posted several questions from the group that she said would be shared with MOH.
“We hope that our answers and concerns will be addressed in a logical and scientific manner and once answered, I will be the first in line at the vaccination centre to take my vaccine.
We reserve the rights to take legal action for the potential defamatory remarks made in the MOH press release. Our rights are fully reserved,” Ms Koh added. /TISG