Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout:Aspects of Acceptability in South Africa

Version 1 : Received: 25 July 2022 / Approved: 1 August 2022 / Online: 1 August 2022 (06:02:11 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Steenberg, B.; Myburgh, N.; Sokani, A.; Ngwenya, N.; Mutevedzi, P.; Madhi, S. COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout: Aspects of Acceptability in South Africa. Vaccines 2022, 10, 1379. Steenberg, B.; Myburgh, N.; Sokani, A.; Ngwenya, N.; Mutevedzi, P.; Madhi, S. COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout: Aspects of Acceptability in South Africa. Vaccines 2022, 10, 1379.

Abstract

Unprecedented in scale, immense COVID-19 immunization programmes have been rolled out globally. This article explores aspects of hypothetical vaccine acceptability in Soweto, South Africa, shortly before such vaccines became available. Whereas hypothetical acceptance was normative, this has not translated into uptake today, which remains concerningly low in South Africa, especially in Soweto. For that reason, we mobilise anthropological concepts to analyse acceptance, hesitancy, and denial, respectively, to gauge and understand public proclivity to inoculate. We find that COVID-19’s haphazard mediatization generated a ‘field of suspicion’ towards authorities and vaccination, which, amplified by dis- and misinformation, fostered othering, hesitancy, and denial considerably. It remains paramount during vaccination rollouts to unveil and address aspects detrimental to vaccine confidence and selectivity, especially in lower-income groups for underlying, context-specific cultural, spiritual, historical, and socioeconomic reasons. Appropriate mediazation alongside a debunking of counterfactual claims is crucial in driving forward immunization.

Keywords

south africa; COVID-19; vaccine acceptancy; vaccine hesitancy; vaccine denial

Subject

Social Sciences, Sociology

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.