Where Republicans are getting their information on vaccines is also impacting public perception of getting vaccinated.
A recent FiveThirtyEight survey, for instance, found that "Republicans who got their news from OANN or Newsmax were generally more extreme in their beliefs around QAnon and in their refusal to get vaccinated than those who got their news from Fox News."
Meanwhile, FiveThirtyEight continued, "Fox News Republicans were often more in line with Republicans who got their news from other mainstream outlets."
Despite right-wing media questioning the safety of vaccines, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voiced his confusion about vaccine hesitancy.
"I'm perplexed by the reluctance of some to get vaccinated, totally perplexed," McConnell said, as reported by CNN's Ana Cabrera.
McConnell was ridiculed for his statement. Here's some of what people were saying:
@AnaCabrera Hmmm I wonder if it had anything to do with the Republicans downplaying Covid, passing laws against Cov… https://t.co/R3YwTTcDfD
— Jana Lynne Sanchez (@thejanasanchez)
1625769253.0
Talk to your people in the @GOP . They are scaring the hell out of folks. Go on FOX and tell their talking heads to cut out the nonsense — xxxJDxxx (@xxxJDxxx3) July 8, 2021
He should realize that eventhough he's telling people to get the vaccine, he's also supporting people who say everything is a hoax and lie. — Justin Cordero (@JustimusPrime1) July 8, 2021
And yet I'm not going do anything about it, except remain perplexed. — Sean OFarrell (@skofarrell) July 8, 2021
Why doesn't he call out Fox News and specifically Tucker Carlson for spreading lies about vaccines and making viewers question the safety and efficacy of the vaccines? 99.2% of the 10,000+ Americans who died from Covid in June weren't vaccinated. — Jeffrey Levy (@jeffreymlevy) July 8, 2021
Why doesn't he call out Fox News and specifically Tucker Carlson for spreading lies about vaccines and making viewers question the safety and efficacy of the vaccines? 99.2% of the 10,000+ Americans who died from Covid in June weren't vaccinated. — Jeffrey Levy (@jeffreymlevy) July 8, 2021
Hey Mitch. You could try speaking out against toxic crap like this. https://t.co/jVTd2znQGx — ????John Freel ???????? (@johnny_divot) July 8, 2021
@LeaderMcConnell should pull the republicans together to launch a campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated. Being perplexed isn't leadership. — Perri Matrisciani (@Hummingbird1314) July 8, 2021
Mitch McConnell: “I'm perplexed" Also Mitch McConnell: “I'm whatever pleases tRump ." — “Mitch McConnell LAUGHS when called out for his lack of action on COVID"pic.twitter.com/2Bs8ZS9AOu — JerriLynn (@Jerri_Lynn25) July 8, 2021
