Anti-vaxxer

What is an anti-vaxxer?

A person who opposes vaccines

An anti-vaxxer is someone who is against vaccinations, whether it be for their child or themself. It became a very controversial term in 2021 when anti-vaxxers chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

The term comes from the anti-vaccination movement, which emerged in the 2000s and 2010s. The movement came from claims by a small number of researchers and doctors that vaccines administered to small children caused autism and other negative effects.

Although most of the claims came from studies with small sample sizes or inaccurate information, people began to refuse vaccines for their kids. Examples of vaccines refused by anti-vaxxers include Hepatitis B, Inactivated poliovirus, Influenza, and Measles.

Before the covid pandemic, many anti-vaxxers were Hollywood celebrities (Jenny McCarthy), radical crunchy people, and religious zealots. However, during covid, many anti-vaxxers rejected the covid vaccine because they believed the vaccine testing was rushed and are worried about side effects. Or, they believe the vaccine is part of a nefarious government conspiracy.

Example

I don't think we'll ever get to the level we need to open up with the number of anti-vaxxers we have in our country
Tweet about the distributions of Covid vaccines
Tweet about the distributions of Covid vaccines

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Updated August 5, 2021

Anti-vaxxer definition by Slang.net

This page explains what the slang term "Anti-vaxxer" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.

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