Anti-vaxxers are seen as ‘selfish’ and ‘stupid’, new survey finds

According to a new survey of the general public, anyone who discourages others to get the Covid-19 vaccine is largely seen as ‘selfish’ and ‘stupid’.

The research from King’s College London and Ipsos Mori discovered that more than four in 10 British people (41%) think anyone actively trying to discourage people from getting vaccinated are stupid.

As well as that, a third of people surveyed said they thought ‘anti-vaxxers’ were also selfish, and 17% thought those who discourage others from getting the vaccine are bad people.

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People who rely on social media for most of their coronavirus information had a more positive view of people who discourage others from getting vaccinated, while those who use WhatsApp and YouTube as key sources of info were also less likely to call ‘anti-vaxxers’ stupid or selfish.

The survey also discovered that the public in the UK are less judgmental about anyone who doesn’t want a vaccination, with 13% saying they respect these individuals.

The research was put together following interviews with 2,244 British residents, aged between 16 and 75, which were done online from November 20th-24th.

Following their research, experts have warned the findings show efforts to persuade people reluctant to get the jab to change their minds might be hindered.

They called for people with doubts about the vaccine to be engaged with rather than dismissed or put down.

The director of KCL’s Policy Institute, Professor Bobby Duffy, said: “People are much less judgmental about those who say they would not get a vaccine themselves than they are about those who are discouraging others – with the public likely to say they have no strong feelings about those who may not get the vaccine themselves.

“Taken together, this suggests the public make a distinction between people making personal choices on vaccination and those trying to influence others not to have the vaccine.

“This is an important message, as we need to engage those who have doubts, not dismiss or denigrate them, while also acting decisively on the spread of misinformation.”

Anna Quigley, the head of health research at Ipsos Mori Public Affairs, added: “If we want to convince people to get the vaccine when they are reluctant, we need to engage with them constructively. This will be challenging, given almost a third of Britons believe that those who refuse a Covid-19 vaccine are stupid.

“Assertion and arguments from force may only further entrench attitudes of those unwilling to accept a vaccine.

“This would be hugely detrimental to the health of the population and to our ability to effectively move past this pandemic.”