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I don't think antivax conspiracy makes a lot of impact. Current vaccination rate in the US is 55%. This is comparable with the number of people who, for examp

I don't think antivax conspiracy makes a lot of impact. Current vaccination rate in the US is 55%. This is comparable with the number of people who, for example, do a dental check-up at least once a year, which is 60%, although there's no dentists conspiracy theory, at least not such a popular one. P.S. those downvoting, please feel free to, but I would highly appreciate a couple of lines on what's wrong with the message? Pure curiosity.

throwawayboise 5y ago
Agreed. I doubt that half the population thinks that the COVID vaccine is a conspiracy to kill them, render them infertile, or depopulate the earth. I'm not vaccinated, and I don't believe those things. I do see the dentist every 6 months though.
- rootusrootus 5y ago
  Tribal politics is probably a better predictor than fringe theories.
  - boring_twenties 5y ago
    I have a friend who's gone off the deep end in the past year (like so many others). He freely admits that he doesn't believe the vaccine is bad, and might even be good. His sole reason for not taking it is, and I quote, "because they want me to." In other words, simple spite. We're not talking about a teenager here, but a successful man in his 60's who is probably the single most well-read person I know.
    - naasking 5y ago
      You see no value in the instinct to resist conformity? All major social and scientific progress has been made by someone with that kind of mindset. You could argue that it's misplaced in this case, but that's already a more charitable interpretation of anti-conformists that will serve you better than just saying they've "gone off the deep end".
jhbadger 5y ago
The difference is dentists in the US cost money (unless you have a job with dental insurance which many low-end jobs do not). People who don't go to dentists regularly probably can't afford it. The Covid-19 shot is free (at least in the US).

throwawayboise 5y ago

Agreed. I doubt that half the population thinks that the COVID vaccine is a conspiracy to kill them, render them infertile, or depopulate the earth. I'm not vaccinated, and I don't believe those things. I do see the dentist every 6 months though.

rootusrootus 5y ago
Tribal politics is probably a better predictor than fringe theories.
- boring_twenties 5y ago
  I have a friend who's gone off the deep end in the past year (like so many others). He freely admits that he doesn't believe the vaccine is bad, and might even be good. His sole reason for not taking it is, and I quote, "because they want me to." In other words, simple spite. We're not talking about a teenager here, but a successful man in his 60's who is probably the single most well-read person I know.
  - naasking 5y ago
    You see no value in the instinct to resist conformity? All major social and scientific progress has been made by someone with that kind of mindset. You could argue that it's misplaced in this case, but that's already a more charitable interpretation of anti-conformists that will serve you better than just saying they've "gone off the deep end".

jhbadger 5y ago

The difference is dentists in the US cost money (unless you have a job with dental insurance which many low-end jobs do not). People who don't go to dentists regularly probably can't afford it. The Covid-19 shot is free (at least in the US).