Social Listening Report Number 59: 25 July 2022
- Title
- Social Listening Report Number 59: 25 July 2022
- Type of Report
- Social Listening Report
- Date
- July 25, 2022
- Key Trends In the Report
- The national state of disaster was still lifted. The BA.5 Omicron subvariant was reported to be more transmissible and resistant to vaccines than earlier strains. Public sentiment increasingly suggested that “Covid is over,” even as cases rose by 12.8% in South Africa, especially in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and North West provinces. Discussions about Covid-19 on social media and digital platforms declined. Some companies faced pressure to reinstate employees dismissed for refusing vaccination. Political and religious leaders voiced opposition to mandatory vaccination, while others encouraged voluntary uptake. Institutions like the University of the Free State lifted their mandates.
- Misinformation by Period
- Many people falsely claimed that the pandemic had ended, despite rising case numbers and the emergence of new variants. Misinformation spread suggesting that Covid-19 vaccines caused harmful reproductive effects, particularly changes in menstruation. Some narratives falsely portrayed vaccine mandates as illegal or unethical, fueling resistance. Conspiracy theories emerged suggesting a connection between monkeypox outbreaks and Covid-19 vaccinations. Misinformation led some parents to believe that routine childhood vaccines were unsafe or unnecessary.
- Suggested Recommendations
- Authorities were advised to communicate transparently about new variants, vaccine effectiveness, and ongoing risks to counter misinformation and public fatigue. It was recommended that local leaders, influencers, and health workers be involved in outreach efforts to rebuild trust and encourage vaccine uptake. The report suggested that digital platforms and health agencies should continue tracking misinformation trends to respond quickly and effectively. Mobile vaccination units and community-based initiatives were recommended to reach populations with limited access to healthcare facilities.
- Lockdown Level
- The National State of Disaster lifted
- Cumulative Cases
- 4 002 981
- Cumulative Deaths
- 101 955
- Cumulative Hospitalisations
- 540 574
- Cumulative Recoveries
- 3 894 847
- Total number of vaccines administered to date
- 37 186 567
- Geographical Region
- Africa (South Africa)
- Curators of the report
- Herkulaas Combrink
- Charity Bhengu
- William Bird and Peter Benjamin
- 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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