Thank you all for taking the time to reply.
hoo boy, I completely agree. Which I think highlights just how poorly the messaging and influencing campaign has been. If Kory doesn't understand the basics of how to do a meta-analysis, then it should be easy for superior ideas and expertise to rise above and dominate Kory's inferior ones without any need for there to be a "smear campaign". Unfortunately, our thought "leaders" immature approach only bolstered the credibility in many people's eyes of these fringe doctors and groups and lowered their own - and I can see why.
Flagpole, your response is a fairly good example of why people have lost trust. I'm pretty much on the same side as you - I just think that the messaging has been piss poor, and how you can possibly argue that given the results of the massive numbers of "anti-vaxxers" (a term that has been used as an otherizing pejorative).
So, let me see if I can possibly help you understand... People, in general, like to be treated with dignity and respect. They want to be allowed to make their own decisions, even if it may result in the wrong decision. Do you have children? If so, what, in your experience, has worked better in achieving the outcome you desire - 1) Johnny, you dumb mother-effer, you must do this or we're all going to die (when clearly they can see that this is false), and if you don't, we're going to come after your livelihood, OR 2) Johnny, I can see how/why you might see it like that. I appreciate your perspective, but here's another way to look at it (and then explain very persuasively and patiently). See the difference? In my experience, the second is much more effective. The fact that our side can not seem to grasp this basic concept seems to weakens our entire position (because if we can't even understand that, how are we to be trusted with understanding complex things?).
Finally, you are flat out wrong about Ivrmctn. All of it was smeared. After Rogan said that he included it in his "throw the kitchen sink at it" approach, the collective response was "he took the horse de-wormer?!?!?" It could have been a great opportunity for the health professionals to provide an effective teaching moment, but no.
So, I apologize if you find my thoughts on the matter to be "a bunch of foolish crap", beneath you, and unworthy of consideration. You have not quite convinced me yet, however, that much of the fault for the hesitancy around the vaccines can't be directly attributed to the godawful way that our side has attempted (and continues to attempt) to persuade the unconvinced. The us vs them paradigm is unhelpful (duh!).
But, hey, you do you... If you're a car salesman go with the approach "if you don't buy this, you're a stupid moron that doesn't deserve a car!" and let's see how it goes! Or, if you're a clergy-person, try the tried and true "You MUST believe or else not only you are going to hell, but so are your family members, and all of us!!!", and let's witness the conversions skyrocket.
I wouldn't have thought this would have been difficult, yet here we are. It is SO WEIRD why people aren't embracing vaccines as they obviously should, right? Try to use a little introspection here. Admit that the vaccine acceptance rate hasn't been what we would hope for, and instead of just blaming the rubes and vying to make the divide worse (a lazy, relatively thoughtless, and unproductive approach), mull over how you / we could do better and be more effective.
Indeed DanM, when challenged in a pandemic, I can't believe that some doctors would actually try different treatments in order to help people. Turrible turrible doctors, those. I know if I were at the end of my rope, I certainly wouldn't want one of them on my side. Nosiree! (lol)