NEW YORK -- Misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines is harmful and poses an urgent threat to the U.S. public health, a U.S. media outlet reported.

More than 62 million people in the United States remain unvaccinated even though figures from the White House COVID-19 Task Force showed that unvaccinated people are 20 times more likely to die from the disease that vaccinated ones are, according to local media WRAL.

The report quoted U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's remarks as saying that this holdout is mainly because of the spreading of misinformation and rumors about the disease.

"A recent poll indicated that nearly 80 percent either believe or are unsure about a common COVID-19 myth," Murthy was quoted as saying.