Social Listening Report Number 48: 09 May 2022
- Title
- Social Listening Report Number 48: 09 May 2022
- Type of Report
- Social Listening Report
- Date
- May 9, 2022
- Key Trends In the Report
- The national state of disaster was still lifted. There was rising anxiety due to the 5th wave and widespread COVID-19 fatigue from the public. Workshops across SA revealed common concerns related to vaccine safety, fertility fears, and belief that Covid is no longer serious.
- Misinformation by Period
- There was misinfomation about vaccine safety including claims that vaccines are harmful, including false reports that they cause infertility, death, or long-term health issues. The idea that natural infection provides better or sufficient protection, making vaccines unnecessary. Beliefs that Covid-19 is a hoax, exaggerated, or part of a global control agenda. Misbeliefs that vaccines are against religious teachings or contain forbidden substances.
- Suggested Recommendations
- Strengthen public messaging around the importance of vaccines and safety measures like mask-wearing and social distancing. Ensure new Covid-19 rules are well-explained and accessible in all South African languages. Continue myth-busting efforts using trusted sources and community influencers to combat misinformation.
- Lockdown Level
- The National State of Disaster lifted
- Cumulative Cases
- 3 844 626
- Cumulative Deaths
- 100 533
- Cumulative Hospitalisations
- 523 028
- Cumulative Recoveries
- 3 680 855
- Total number of vaccines administered to date
- 35 290 648
- Geographical Region
- Africa (South Africa)
- Curators of the report
- National department of health
- Social listening team
- WHO AIRA
- Viral Facts
- Community Engagement patners and Call Centre teams
- 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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