Xbox encourages COVID vaccinations, tackles misinformation on Twitter

Console developer allies with experts to encourage vax program

This past weekend, Microsoft’s Xbox took to social media in order to encourage its 16-million strong player base to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. The industry giant used its huge media reach in an effort to dispel misinformation and urge users to join the ongoing global vaccination program — battling the devastating illness that has claimed over 4.5 million lives to date.

Xbox teamed with the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to offer up information on the vaccine’s effectiveness in hospitalized patients vs. those who have been admitted to hospital without the vaccine. Testimony from CDC President Dr. Judy Monroe and Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Jay Butler, was also printed in efforts to combat the conspiracy theories that have been allowed to fester and thrive within social media.

“The COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. are highly effective at preventing severe disease and death, including against the Delta variant,” states a series of tweets from the official Xbox account “As it stands, unvaccinated people are most at risk to contract and spread the virus.”

“To dispel some common COVID-19 vaccine myths: the vaccines don’t contain microchips or magnets, they don’t alter your DNA, they don’t give you COVID-19, and there is no evidence they have any impact on pregnancy or fertility. To maximize protection from COVID-19 and the Delta variant, the CDC recommends wearing a mask, hand washing, and getting fully vaccinated.”

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for distribution among the populace. As hospital beds across the United States continue to fill up with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients (around 99% of all current COVID patients), the government called upon companies with large social media followings to take part in a nationwide drive to encourage the country’s citizens to receive the vaccine.

Xbox urges its users to get vaccinated and dispels conspiracy theories [VGC]

Chris Moyse

Senior Editor – Chris has been playing video games since the 1980s. Former Saturday Night Slam Master. Graduated from Galaxy High with honors.