Social Listening Report Number 32: 20 January 2022
- Title
- Social Listening Report Number 32: 20 January 2022
- Type of Report
- Social Listening Report
- Date
- January 20, 2022
- Key Trends In the Report
- The country was still on alert level 1. The report highlighted that during January 2022 the Omicron variant cases that caused the 4th wave of COVID-19 was decreasing in South Africa. There was confusion on social media about the Omicron variant some people described the variant as "mild", "common cold" and "less severe". These descriptions caused many people to speculate that the Omicron variant was being used by government to scare people into vaccinating. There was misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccine injuries in a form of a video circulating on social media with claims of severe adverse effects from vaccination. Lastly, the report covered discusions around compulsory and manditory COVID-19 vaccination
- Misinformation by Period
- Misinformation on injuries or deaths after vaccination without evidence. Incorrect statements about the effectiveness of vaccines. Misrepresentation of the severity of Covid-19, including downplaying the risks associated with the virus. Claims that natural immunity is superior to vaccine-induced immunity.
- Suggested Recommendations
- Communicate through Covid-19 champions,debunk rampant misinformation. Promote vaccine education and educate people on the benefits and safety of vaccines. Actively track social media and respond to misinformation. Increase community engagement. Laslt, provide resources and support for mental health.
- Lockdown Level
- 1
- Cumulative Cases
- 3 572 861
- Cumulative Deaths
- 93 846
- Cumulative Hospitalisations
- 492 170
- Cumulative Recoveries
- 3 394 527
- Total number of vaccines administered to date
- 29 393 480
- Geographical Region
- Africa (South Africa)
- Curators of the report
- Nombulelo Leburu
- NDoH
- Peter Benjamin
- HealthEnabled
- Charity Bhengu.
- 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
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