| Microchips. Magnets. "Mark of the beast." Those are just some of the things that U.S. anti-vaccine warriors have falsely claimed Covid-19 shots contain. That same disinformation is now spreading halfway around the world, sparking fear and endangering millions in Southeast Asia, where the virus still rages. From Thailand to the Philippines, parts of the population are reluctant to take Covid-19 shots. That's worrisome for a region where tens of thousands of new infections are still being reported daily, partly due to more transmissible variants, and where inoculation has been sluggish, mainly due to shortages after rich nations snapped up stock.  An elderly woman receives a Covid-19 vaccine in Manila. Photographer: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images AsiaPac Anti-vaccination propaganda on social media is fueling this hesitancy. False narratives from anti-vaccination movements in the U.S. and also from local sources are now circulating on Facebook and other platforms. Hoaxes claiming vaccines supposedly change one's genetic makeup or are part of an Illuminati agenda get hundreds of views, and are even being passed along in messaging apps, making them harder to track. The problem is exacerbated by vaccine inequity. With richer Western nations getting the lion's share of super-effective mRNA shots, poorer countries in the region are left with fewer available brands. Some choose to wait until they can get the higher-efficacy shots. Governments and companies are fighting back. Facebook and Twitter have been flagging and taking down false claims. Southeast Asian countries have pushed through new laws or used existing ones against falsehoods. Some are even raffling off cows and chickens to encourage residents to take Covid-19 shots. The region's efforts against this propaganda, however, will have to be firmer and faster, health and technology experts say, as most economies in the region struggle to bounce back from the pandemic's lingering effects.—Andreo Calonzo | 
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