Social Listening Report Number 21: 05 October 2021

Title

Social Listening Report Number 21: 05 October 2021

Type of Report

Social Listening Report

Date

October 5, 2021

Key Trends In the Report

The country entered adjusted alert level 1. The report documented the vooma vaccination weekend aimed at improving the vaccination drive from 1-3 of October there were about 350 000 vaccines because of the vooma vaccination. October 2021 marked the end of the third COVID-19 wave and decrease in infections and deaths. There were mixed political response to vaccinations, with major parties supporting it while smaller parties and factions opposed it. President Ramaphosa's announcement of vaccine passports sparked both support and opposition. There was also documented discrimination against the unvaccinated.

Misinformation by Period

The side effects of the vaccine are intentionally being hidden and vaccines cause more death than the COVID-19 virus. Unverified research that includes the spread of false and unverified information about vaccines on social media. Infertility myths. Claims of forced vaccinations by the government because of mandatory vaccination policies. Exaggerated reports of severe side effects.

Suggested Recommendations

Address resistance to taking the second Pfizer vaccine. Address COVID-19 vaccine adverse side effects. Improve vaccine accessibility by sharing vaccine sites. Counter false information about vaccines through verified sources. Address vaccine hesitancy. Lastly, provide support for undocumented South Africans.

Lockdown Level

1

Cumulative Cases

2 907 620

Cumulative Deaths

87 922

Cumulative Hospitalisations

430 935

Cumulative Recoveries

2 783 018

Total number of vaccines administered to date

18 513 669

Geographical Region

Africa (South Africa)

Curators of the report

National Department of Health

Stakeholders

National Health Hotline: Reports from the national call centre

Org: NDOH Covid-19 WhatsApp system

WHO Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA)

UNICEF: digital analysis of content on Google, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, and digital news

SA Red Cross: Network of over 2,000 community volunteers reporting misinformation and concerns.

Real 411 Media Monitoring Africa: a mis- and disinformation reporting and debunking initiative

COVID Comms: a network of communications specialists that produces information on the pandemic.

DOH Free State & KZN: Provincial Departments of Health

Health Systems Trust, Community Constituency Front (CCF),

Health Enabled

Centre for Communication Impact, Centre for Analytics & Behavioural Change

Medical Research Council, National Institute for Communicable Diseases,

SA Vaccination and Immunisation Centre, HSRC, DG Murray Trust, Right to Care

Universities of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Free State, Wits, Stellenbosch, Sefako Makgatho