CMV: The term "anti-vaxxer" is used as a pejorative to obfuscate a wide variety of opinions about vaccination.

I want to preface this by saying that I am not anti-vaccines. I am not "anti-science". I am a physicist, and I take a very scientific approach to multiple aspects of my life. The single argument I am making is that the term "anti-vaxxer" is being abused in order to form a narrative that people who don't take the COVID vaccine are all simply "dumb" or "against science". I'm not defending people who reject the science of vaccination, however it is clear to me that many people who do not take the vaccine are not "anti-vaxxers" in the way that this term is popularly used.<br><br>The term "anti-vaxxer" was originally used to describe parents who refused to allow their children to be vaccinated because of perceived links between vaccines and conditions like autism. To be clear, these claims have been thoroughly debunked and these people are choosing to reject the scientific consensus. After the pandemic, the term "anti-vaxxer" has been widened to include almost anyone who does not want to take the vaccine.<br><br>There are many types of "anti-vaxxers":<br>* Those who believe that COVID is a hoax<br>* Those who are scared of side effects<br>* Those who are scared of a "new" vaccine<br>* Those who do not believe that they are at risk of contracting the disease<br>* Those who believe that vaccination is dangerous and bad for their health<br>* Those who want to wait for other people to take the vaccine and see if there are any issues<br>* Those who have spoken to a medical professional and decided that the vaccine is not right for them<br>* Those who were previously vaccinated, but have developed a fear of vaccines<br>* Those who are simply unsure<br><br>Some of these people are "anti-vaxxers" in the classical sense. Some of these people are not. Some of these people have legitimate concerns. Some of these people are being stupid and misinformed. I am not defending people who reject the science of vaccination, however I have noticed that a narrative has formed that people who are hesitant to take the vaccine are stupid and against science. <br><br>I think that the term "anti-vaxxer" is being abused to create a form of othering that allows people to marginalise others without properly engaging with them. I believe that this form of othering can lead to the marginalisation of people who are not rejecting the science of vaccination. I believe it can also make people who are genuinely afraid of or uncertain about the vaccine less likely to engage in conversation about their concerns, which can make them more likely to decide not to take the vaccine.<br><br>CMV.<br><br>EDIT: I notice that many people think I am arguing that people who don't want to take the vaccine are justified in their fears or that I am defending them. I am not. I am saying that many of these people, while misinformed or stupid, have legitimate fears that should be listened to. I am not saying that their fears are justified, I am saying that we should approach these people in an empathetic manner.<br><br>I am not defending people who outright reject the science behind vaccination. People who refuse a vaccine based on flawed science or misinformation are putting others at risk, and it's not okay. However, we should approach people who have legitimate fears or concerns and talk them through them in an empathetic manner.<br><br>I am also not saying that people who believed that COVID was a hoax should not be called "anti-vaxxers". I am saying that people who have a legitimate fear of taking the vaccine, but are willing to listen to the science, should not be called "anti-vaxxers". <br><br>EDIT: I appreciate the (mostly) respectful comments I have received so far. Thank you to everyone who has engaged in the discussion so far. I have been reading all the comments and replying to a select few. Thank you to everyone who has upvoted the post.<br><br>EDIT: I am overwhelmed by the sheer volume of comments. I will not be able to reply to each comment individually. I appreciate the discussion that has been taking place and I will be reading as many of the comments as I can.