"It has to stop": Karl's blunt plea after anti-vaxxers hijack student's death
Karl Stefanovic used his platform on The Today Show to plead with those spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.
The TV host discussed the high profile case of Year 12 student Tom van Dijk, who passed away last week after suffering from a cardiac arrest while swimming with his family.
Karl went on to say that Tom's school was forced to step in when a flood of social media messages incorrectly linked his untimely death to the COVID-19 vaccine.
"He had a cardiac arrest. So what happens? Thousands of faceless keyboard warriors take it upon themselves to seize on his awful death in front of his family, circulating false information, blaming his death on vaccinations," he said.
"His school already dealing with grief amongst students was forced to confirm he hadn't even had a vaccination yet."
"Imagine the added stress on that poor young man's family...their pain and their tragedy made worse by lies on social media."
Karl went on to say the spread of misinformation is dangerous and "it has to stop".
Tom van Dijk died on August 21, which was confirmed by his school principal, John Couani, at St Pius X College in Chatswood, Sydney.
Couani reiterated Karl Stefanovic's claims about vaccine misinformation, saying he is unsure why the dangerous rumours started in the first place.
The misinformation is horrific, there was nothing to do with mental health, this is purely a health issue,” he said.
“The school did not force students to be vaccinated — the school is not in a hotspot or local government area of concern, nor was it eligible for the priority vaccination program — we’ve made no statement calling for vaccinations of students.”
Image credit: Channel Nine