Misinformation caused more Republicans to die than Democrats
After COVID-19 vaccines became available, more Republicans than Democrats died, especially in counties with lower vaccination rates.
After COVID-19 vaccines became available, more Republicans than Democrats died, especially in counties with lower vaccination rates.
Even as efforts continue to promote booster campaigns and increase vaccination rates, there are still over 70 million Americans who have not received even their first dose of a COVID vaccine. These individuals have rejected vaccination up until this point and remain at dramatically increased risk of severe outcomes, including death.
From March 2020 to December 2021, the average excess death rate among Republicans was 76% higher than that of Democrats. This difference grew to 95% from March 2020 to March 2021 and reached 153% after April 5, 2021, when all adults became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Florida and Ohio. This time period overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past several years, there has been a proliferation of misinformation about vaccines. This has led to a decrease in vaccine confidence, which refers to the belief that vaccines are safe and effective. There are several ways in which misinformation has affected vaccine opinions:
First, there have been enormous false or misleading claims about the safety of vaccines. Some people may believe that vaccines are not safe due to misinformation about their risks and side effects. However, the overwhelming scientific evidence supports the conclusion that vaccines are safe and effective at preventing illness.
Second, there has been enormous amounts of of false or misleading claims about the effectiveness of vaccines. Some people may believe that vaccines are not effective at preventing illness due to misinformation about their effectiveness. However, the scientific evidence demonstrates that vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious diseases.
Third, there have been conspiracy theories about vaccines. Some people may believe that vaccines are a way for governments or other organizations to control or harm people. These conspiracy theories are not based in reality and have no scientific basis.
Finally, there are organized groups on social media that actively spread misinformation about vaccines in order to discourage people from getting vaccinated. These anti-vaccine groups, rely on fear and misinformation. They may post screenshots from hastily-made websites that have fabricated information, or they may fabricate their own information and put a CDC logo on it.
It is important to recognize that all of these factors contribute to a decrease in vaccine confidence and can lead people to make decisions about vaccination that are not based on scientific evidence. This can have serious consequences, including outbreaks of preventable diseases. It is essential that we rely on scientific evidence and trusted sources of information when making decisions about vaccination.
