DISINFO: Anti-vaccine ideology came to Russia from the West
SUMMARY
Anti-vaccine ideology in Russia is being spread by the West.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative surrounding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the related issue of vaccination.
Available data shows that the Russians' skepticism toward vaccination against Covid-19 is homegrown. According to the Levada Centre, Russia's top independent pollster, vaccine hesitancy within the country is largely linked to the public's mistrust of the government and its handling of the pandemic.
There is abundant evidence, however, that pro-Kremlin disinformation has sought to amplify anti-vaccination messages in the West, question the efficacy of Western vaccines, and blame Western institutions for the low public interest so far in the Russia-made Sputnik V vaccine, both at home and abroad. See here for our six-part reports on this issue.