South Africa
Certain groups more hesitant of #Covid19 vaccine─── 06:21 Thu, 13 May 2021
While the threats of a third wave continue to loom, the Department of Health has assured the country the vaccination programme is still on track.
The country is expected to launch phase 2 of its vaccine campaign on Monday, targeting the elderly and people in congregate settings.
The remaining healthcare workers will also be inoculated under phase 2.
In the build-up to the vaccination drive opening to the general public, a Covid-19 study found Afrikaans-speaking respondents were more hesitant to get the jab.
The National Income Dynamics Study conducted between 2020 and March 2021 surveyed more than 25 000 during that period.
According to the survey, 42% of Afrikaans home language respondents were vaccine-hesitant - much higher than the national average of 29%.
"Among the 29% of respondents who were vaccine-hesitant, the three leading reasons for their hesitancy were that they were worried about the side effects (31%), did not believe it was effective (21%), or did not trust vaccines in general (18%). If respondents were hesitant about getting a vaccine, they were asked for reasons why they were hesitant," the survey found.
"The vast majority (84%) only cited one reason. Importantly, only 8% of those exhibiting vaccine hesitancy say they are reluctant to get vaccinated because they believe they have a low risk of getting Covid-19."
