I thought the doctors who espoused antivaxx nonsense were true believers. Looking at their resumes, you can see the inadequacies in the academic backgrounds, no infectious disease fellowships, for example. So, I figured they simply did not have the education to know better. Well intentioned but under-educated and misguided doctors spouting stupidity.
Well, I was wrong. They aren’t simply undereducated fake experts. They are political operatives. They tried to keep that a secret at first. But then it became apparent. The GOP latched on to the antivaxx movement and promoted the fake experts for political purposes.
Want proof?
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/what-do-steve-bannon-s-covid-supplements-gwyneth-paltrow-s-ncna1268190
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/31/vaccine-skeptics-gop-politics-trump-00003759
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/17/guo-wengui-disinformation-steve-bannon/
https://news.yahoo.com/stop-vaccines-marjorie-taylor-greene-180355264.html
https://time.com/6141699/anti-vaccine-mandate-movement-rally/
https://www.businessinsider.com/ican-billionaire-funded-antivax-group-trump-fans-ties-2021-8
I think you get the point. There have been hundreds of investigative pieces published exposing the link between far right politics and the antivaxx movement. The doctors of disinformation are political operatives. They were put out there by Trump, Bannon and the GOP who think it is a winning strategy to align with antivaxx nonsense.
Well, I have some bad news for them. Dead people don’t vote. COVID mortality among Republicans is much higher than among Democrats. As it becomes clear that the GOP pushed fake experts on the public through FOX News and other sham media outlets, there will be a backlash. They GOP has cemented its brand as the party of antiscience.