People need to stop associating vaccine and mandate skepticism with racism and White nationalism.
Are there people that share both views? For sure. But to act like it’s a majority is disingenuous.
We don’t have demographic data on who’s actually been vaccinated, but we do have a lot of data about sentiment.
And when you look at the data, the groups that have the highest levels of vaccine hesitancy are:
- Black Canadians
- Indigenous people
- Immigrants
Vaccine hesitancy is especially high amongst working class people in those groups.
And it’s easy to understand why. Because of their life experiences, and the systemic disadvantages they’ve faced, those groups are the least trusting of government. And honestly, rightfully so.
This is much more about class than race.
So when professional class White people go on social media and call everyone who has hesitancy a racist and idiot, and talks down to them, it only widens that divide.