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COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in South Africa: Lessons for Future Pandemics

Author

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  • Michelle Engelbrecht

    (Centre for Health Systems Research & Development, Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

  • Christo Heunis

    (Centre for Health Systems Research & Development, Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

  • Gladys Kigozi

    (Centre for Health Systems Research & Development, Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy, long considered a global health threat, poses a major barrier to effective roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination. With less than half (45%) of adult South Africans currently fully vaccinated, we identified factors affecting non-uptake of vaccination and vaccine hesitancy in order to identify key groups to be targeted when embarking upon COVID-19 vaccine promotion campaigns. A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was undertaken among the South African adult population in September 2021. Our research identified race, interactive–critical vaccine literacy, trust in the government’s ability to roll out the COVID-19 vaccination programme, flu vaccination status and risk perception for COVID-19 infection as key factors influencing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. Respondents who did not trust in the government’s ability to roll out vaccination were almost 13 times more likely to be vaccine-hesitant compared to those respondents who did trust the government. Reliable, easy-to-understand information regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines is needed, but it is also important that vaccination promotion and communication strategies include broader trust-building measures to enhance South Africans’ trust in the government’s ability to roll out vaccination effectively and safely. This may also be the case in other countries where distrust in governments’ ability prevails.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle Engelbrecht & Christo Heunis & Gladys Kigozi, 2022. "COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in South Africa: Lessons for Future Pandemics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6694-:d:828090
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ivana Gusar & Suzana Konjevoda & Grozdana Babić & Dijana Hnatešen & Maja Čebohin & Rahela Orlandini & Boris Dželalija, 2021. "Pre-Vaccination COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy in a Croatian Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Philip Ball, 2021. "The lightning-fast quest for COVID vaccines — and what it means for other diseases," Nature, Nature, vol. 589(7840), pages 16-18, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Leslie D. Williams & Phumlani Memela & Alastair van Heerden & Samuel R. Friedman & Phillip Joseph & Buyisile Chibi, 2024. "Relationships Among COVID-19-Related Service Uptake, HIV Status, Drug Use, and COVID-19 Antibody Status Among HIV Testing Intervention Participants in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-12, October.

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