Conspiracy theory baselessly links Indonesia wildfires to new tuberculosis vaccine

As Indonesia fights widespread wildfires that have unleashed toxic haze across the country and its neighbours, a conspiracy theory shared online baselessly claims the blazes are part of a plot to roll out a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine linked to US philanthropist Bill Gates. The Indonesian Health Ministry said the shot, whose clinical trials began years ago, will not be administered anytime soon -- and experts point to slash-and-burn land-clearing practices as a key cause of the fires.