Absolutely. Though I am not really fond of the term "anti-vaxer" as that presupposes one's rejection of all vaccines, in all situations. I doubt people who don't want COVID shots are that way, in their large majority - they just don't want largely useless and unsafe COVID shots. I can, for example, see a massive benefit to a smallpox vaccine as typically that would keep you immune from a disease that kills up to 20% or more while the risk of death from the vaccine itself is under 0.1%. As you can clearly see that would be a vaccine that can be rationally justified, unlike the COVID shot.
Now as to the coercion you are referring to - yes, that was widespread reality almost everywhere, and that was a crime, IMHO.