I could have addressed that side as well, but I didn't think it was necessarily relevant to the point. There's also now diverging definitions of what defines "

I could have addressed that side as well, but I didn't think it was necessarily relevant to the point. There's also now diverging definitions of what defines "anti-vaxx". Anti-vaxxers might be against all vaccines, or anti-vaxx might mean being against the mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV2, and then sometimes I get labeled as such (or as a sympathizer) because I think there are valid concerns about these vaccines. In terms of the OG anti-vaxxers, I agree that they did and perhaps do still play a significant role in fostering distrust. In my opinion, that's just too easy a point to make. Did I really need to make a point about it? It's not really a controversial opinion to state on HN that people who are out of touch with reality share responsibility for vaccine hesitancy. What's more important is that we recognize that this issue doesn't exist in isolation. I do not buy that the extreme anti-vaxxers share the bulk of responsibility here. The authorities had a chance to get everyone on board, and they totally blew it. Anti-vaxxers could have not existed before this pandemic and they would have still been created as a part of the radical shifts in global societies and how power structures have used tactics that appear to rather intentionally create divisions. > And how it is only democrats who are responsible for some anti-vaccine claims despite massive anti-vaccine, anti-masks campaigns from republican politicians. Yes, that is true, and I corrected myself before I even saw your comment.