Covid-19 Epidemiology Report Number 29: 02 December 2021

Title

Covid-19 Epidemiology Report Number 29: 02 December 2021

Type of Report

Covid-19 Epidemiology Report

Date

December 2, 2021

Key Trends In the Report

The disaster management regulations was on alert level 1. During December 2021, there was a decline in overall vaccine conversations on social media, but negative sentiment increased by 15%. There was increased opposition on vaccine mandates people started using the concept of "medical apartheid" and infringements on personal freedoms were at the centre of the anti-vaccine mandate discussions. There was increased social mobilisation against vaccines on social media platforms like Facebook and Telegram. There was misinformation and disinformation about various myths and false claims about vaccines such as vaccines cause infertility. The report highlighted increased violence against women during the pandemic and health issues like heart problems in women with long COVID.

Misinformation by Period

Medical Apartheid. Myths about vaccines leading to severe health issues or death. Government control conspiracies (population control). False information questioning the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing COVID-19. Alternative control misinformation. Booster shot confusion.

Suggested Recommendations

Promote Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPI). Provide clear communication about new COVID-19 variants to reduce fear and misinformation. Ensure responsible media reporting by engaging with the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF). Provide training for community members about COVID-19 and its vaccines.

Lockdown Level

1

Cumulative Cases

2 988 149

Cumulative Deaths

89 918

Cumulative Hospitalisations

439 125

Cumulative Recoveries

2 850 905

Total number of vaccines administered to date

26 281 082

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