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Big surprise! Anti-vaxxers are also more likely to fall for Russian propaganda

by Matthew Renfrew

“Anti-vaxxers advocate for freedom, but a majority find themselves on Putin’s side.”

A new EKOS study has found that anti-vaxxers are significantly more likely to oppose sanctions against Russia. In fact, the more vaccinated you are, the more supportive you’re likely to be of tougher sanctions.

82% of those who are triple vaccinated agree that Canada should impose tougher sanctions on Russia; just 18% of anti-vaxxers say the same.

According to a La Presse feature, misinformation about Russia/Ukraine is in many cases coming from exactly the same sources as misinformation about the pandemic and public health. Noted Quebec conspiracy theorist Alexis Cossette-Trudel, popular with anti-vaxxers, has been spreading Russian propaganda on social media.

In a statement yesterday afternoon on Twitter, University of Alberta Law Professor Timothy Caulfield referenced similarities between those who are anti-vaxx and supportive of Putin, whose mindsets are often “shaped by idealogy, misinformation and in-group signalling.”

Big surprise! Anti-vaxxers are also more likely to fall for Russian propaganda

In another tweet, Léger president Jean-Marc Léger discusses the irony of the poll’s findings: “Anti-vaxxers advocate for freedom, but a majority find themselves on Putin’s side.”

Big surprise! Anti-vaxxers are also more likely to fall for Russian propaganda

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by Matthew Renfrew

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