Social Listening Report Number 40: 14 March 2022

Title

Social Listening Report Number 40: 14 March 2022

Type of Report

Social Listening Report

Date

March 14, 2022

Key Trends In the Report

The country was still on alert level 1. There was significant increase in discussions and searches about Pfizer's side effects due to a misinterpreted report. Declining media interest on coverage of COVID-19 related news. Frequent changes in vaccination protocols and COVID-19 fatigue led to confusion. Closure of vaccination sites has led to uncertainty about where to get vaccinated

Misinformation by Period

Declining media interest inCOVID-19 coverage. Misinterpretation of Pfizer report listing side effects leading to increase vaccine hesitancy. False claims about the vaccines affecting fertility. Circulation of videos encouraging workers and students to sue employers and universities over vaccine mandates. Misinformation about the closure of vaccine sites.

Suggested Recommendations

Provide AIRA Viral Facts Africa – The COVID-19 pandemic is not over!. Provide clarity on the Pfizer report and additional information on Pfizer side effects. Improve communication about vaccination protocols. Address misinformation related to fertility concerns. Ensure that vaccination sites remain open and accessible, especially for follow-up doses. Laslty, provide support for youth campaigns like #KeReady campaign.

Lockdown Level

1

Cumulative Cases

3 695 176

Cumulative Deaths

99 725

Cumulative Hospitalisations

508 210

Cumulative Recoveries

3 577 338

Total number of vaccines administered to date

32 776 244

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