Over 29 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have already been administered as nations worldwide are rushing to immunize their populations. Starting with essential workers and the most vulnerable.
Thinking for yourself and having some healthy skepticism is always a plus, especially when there are potential long-term side-effects to take into account about Covid-19 vaccines. But that’s just one side of the scale. On the other side is the internet being full to the brim with conspiracy theories about the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, ranging from talks about alleged 5G-controlled microchips being injected into your bloodstream to rumors that it would supposedly alter your DNA.
On the frontline against this disinformation is professional troll Ben Palmer, from Los Angeles, in California. He’s racing through the internet pretending to be an anti-vaxxer under different names, only to pull the rug from the feet of real vaccine skeptics and Covid-19 deniers while having a laugh. Scroll down and have a look below.
Palmer told Bored Panda that his inspiration for these pranks came from his fans who enjoy his content and encourage him to keep going. "It helps when there is additional value to the humor like making people feel less alone about not being a conspiracy theorist." Palmer explained that he hasn't received any threatening messages from anti-vaxxers so far. However, Deb, one of the people he made up, has gotten a lot of 'fan mail.'
But before we begin, here is a link to the FDA’s fact sheet about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Palmer has been baiting anti-vaxxers by pretending to be a vaccine skeptic under different names
Image credits: palmertrolls
Image credits: palmertrolls
Image credits: palmertrolls
Image credits: palmertrolls
"If you're reading this and you wrote to Deb, just know that she can only respond to so many messages in one day. She'll get back to you as soon as she can but she's been dealing with a lot of hardships, like getting locked out of her account and having difficulties solving captcha," Palmer quipped.
In his opinion, there isn't really anything that people can do to change anti-vaxxers' beliefs. "It's probably something they'll have to get through in their own time. But I'll get vaccinated whenever it's my turn," he told Bored Panda.
Palmer also revealed to us what he does to keep his spirits up and his sense of humor intact during these difficult times. "I like listening to prank caller Longmont Potion Castle. Or watching Conan Without Borders. And it's always cathartic to watch Billy on the Street yell at people."
It’s natural that some people feel frightened by the possible side-effects of vaccines and wonder if everything’s safe. After all, the vaccine isn’t recommended for children up to 16 years old while pregnant women are told to contact their doctors before getting the jab. However, just pondering and worrying isn’t enough. So here’s one professional’s take on the jab.
One person who has full confidence in the coronavirus vaccines is a New York Covid ICU nurse who goes by the name That ICU Nurse (previously Galactic Gardener) on Instagram. She told Bored Panda that, for her, the benefits far outweigh the potential negatives of getting a vaccine. She got her two Pfizer shots (the first in December 2020, the second in January 2021) despite already having overcome Covid earlier.
“I see every day in the ICU the deaths from and long-term effects of Covid infections,” she explained the harsh reality of her job which provides countless reasons for her not to doubt the importance of getting vaccinated.
“I have had Covid and know that the risk of reinfection is possible. To me, the risk of unknown long term effects of a vaccine is underruled by the risk of death at the hands of Covid-19,” she put it plain and simple. Whether you agree or disagree with the nurse’s take on things is entirely up to you, dear Pandas—but it’s a frontline worker’s view of Pfizer and it should be taken into account.
Here's how people reacted when they saw Palmer trolling anti-vaxxers online
