How to Play

Cranky Uncle Vaccine teaches you how to spot misleading tricks or fallacies that are often seen in misinformation about vaccines. As well as finding out about misinformation tricks and learning facts about vaccines, players also get to practise spotting misinformation through fun and challenging quizzes. The more tricks you complete and quizzes you answer, the more cranky points you earn! The more points you earn, the crankier Cranky Uncle gets!

Cartoon of a health care worker saying, "When you understand Cranky Uncle's tricks, you're less likely to be fooled", standing next to Cranky Uncle who has a grumpy expression and folded arms.

Characters

Cranky Uncle cartoon character with a smug, half smile on his face

Cranky Uncle

Meet Cranky Uncle who thinks he knows better than anyone else, especially medical experts! He’ll let you know about the misinformation tricks he uses.

Cartoon of a health care worker looking happy

Healthcare Worker

Meet our medical expert who cares about the health of her patients and wants you to know the truth about the benefits of vaccination.

Tricks

The Cranky Uncle Vaccine game explains ten of the most common misleading tricks (fallacies) found in vaccine misinformation.

Icon representing the fallacy of False Cause

False cause

False cause assumes that because two things happen around the same time, one must have caused the other.

Icon representing the fallacy of Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories suggest a secret plan exists to implement a evil scheme such as hiding a truth.

Icon representing the fallacy of Pick and Choose

Pick and choose

Pick and choose involves only choosing certain facts that support an argument but ignoring other facts that don’t.

Icon representing the fallacy of Nature is Best

Natural is best

Natural is best argues that anything natural is better than medicine.

Icon representing the fallacy of Evil Intent

Evil intent

Assuming that the motivations behind any presumed conspiracy are evil.

Icon representing the fallacy of Personal Stories

Personal stories

Personal stories rely on personal experience or isolated examples instead of sound arguments or compelling evidence.

Icon representing the fallacy of Personal Attack

Personal attack

Personal attack involves attacking a person or group instead of addressing their arguments.

Icon representing the fallacy of Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation involves distorting the science or an opponent’s position.

Icon representing the fallacy of Impossible Expectations

Impossible expectations

Impossible expectations demands unrealistic standards of certainty before acting on the science.

Icon representing the fallacy of Fake Experts

Fake experts

A fake expert is an unqualified person or institution presented as a source of credible information.

Quizzes

Complete quiz questions to practice identifying the tricks used to mislead.

Smart phone screenshot of a multiple choice quiz question in the Cranky Uncle Vaccine appSmart phone screenshot of a quiz question in the Cranky Uncle Vaccine app

Progress

Earn cranky points, unlock new tricks, and see Cranky Uncle get crankier!

Smart phone screenshot of the points and progress screen in the Cranky Uncle Vaccine app

Quizzes

Complete quiz questions to practice identifying the tricks used to mislead.

Smart phone screenshot of a multiple choice quiz question in the Cranky Uncle Vaccine appSmart phone screenshot of a quiz question in the Cranky Uncle Vaccine app

Progress

Earn cranky points, unlock new tricks, and see Cranky Uncle get crankier!

Smart phone screenshot of the points and progress screen in the Cranky Uncle Vaccine app