Social Listening Report Number 26: 12 November 2021

Title

Social Listening Report Number 26: 12 November 2021

Type of Report

Social Listening Report

Date

November 12, 2021

Key Trends In the Report

During this report the country was still on alert level 1. There was a wide spread concern about a potential fourth wave of COVID-19 expected in December or January 2022. There was skepticism towards rising COVID-19 cases after the elections with people voicing out that the numbers might have been manipulated for political gain. There was discussions over side effects and mistrust related to COVID-19 vaccines. There were negative sentiment towards Pfizer's significant profits from vaccine sales, with accusations of the company being driven by profit motives. And lastly, concerns over possible coercion by governments for the general public to get vaccinated this included citing schemes such as the vooma vourcher incentives.

Misinformation by Period

Vaccine hesitancy due to the high recovery rate. Covid is no longer a threat misinformation. Fear of the fourth wave. Post election skepticism related to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Negative views related to Pfizer profits on the sale of COVID-19 vaccines. Concerns about vaccination coercion. Vaccine hesitancy misinformation.

Suggested Recommendations

Continue producing information for community mobilisers. Promote Vooma Vaccination Champions. Address side effects and provide clear information on how to report side effects. Offer incentives that are perceived as supportive rather than coercive. Promote community engagement .

Lockdown Level

1

Cumulative Cases

2 925 372

Cumulative Deaths

89 469

Cumulative Hospitalisations

436 075

Cumulative Recoveries

2 819 307

Total number of vaccines administered to date

24 036 739

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