Parody award goes to presidential candidate for Covid disinformation

The 2021 Bludný balvan (Glacial Erratic) Czech parody award has gone to billionaire businessman Karel Janeček and the association Zdravé forum (Healthy Forum), in both cases for disinformation relating to Covid-19.

Explaining the awards on its website, the Sisyfos Club of Czech Sceptics said Mr. Janeček, who came first in the individual category, had warned of the long-term dangers of vaccines against Covid but not the threat of long Covid.

The organisers said Zdravé forum had downplayed the risks of catching the coronavirus.

Mr. Janeček is standing for president but is not considered one of the front-runners.