Social Listening Report Number 84: 14 April 2023

Title

Social Listening Report Number 84: 14 April 2023

Type of Report

Social Listening Report

Date

April 14, 2023

Key Trends In the Report

The national state of disaster was still lifted. Many social media users believed that COVID-19 had ended, questioning the need for continued government messaging. Others accepted that COVID-19 was ongoing, similar to TB and HIV, and expressed willingness to continue receiving booster shots. There were ongoing doubts about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, with calls for transparent safety data. Reports from Olifantshoek in the Northern Cape indicated a lack of measles vaccines for over a month. A local Telegram group, known for anti-vaccine views, claimed that mRNA vaccines caused tinnitus (a static sound in the head). A South African political party challenged the authorization of the Pfizer vaccine in court, citing trial data and side effects. Parents reported flu-like symptoms, skin irritation, red eyes, fever, and nosebleeds in children after measles vaccination.

Misinformation by Period

Misinformation circulated claiming that COVID-19 vaccines caused miscarriages, bronchopneumonia, and other severe health issues. Anti-vaccine groups on Telegram spread false claims that mRNA vaccines caused tinnitus (a persistent ringing or static sound in the ears). Parents shared unverified stories that measles vaccines led to flu-like symptoms, red eyes, nosebleeds, and even mumps in children. A political party used trial data out of context to argue that the Pfizer vaccine was ineffective against severe illness and death. Some individuals claimed that vaccines were being promoted not for health reasons but to clear excess stock.

Suggested Recommendations

Vaccine education, Building trust and explosing public to WHO Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA) & Viral Facts. It was recommended that the Department of Health provide clear information about where vaccines were still available, especially in areas reporting shortages. Authorities were advised to respond to misinformation swiftly, particularly around vaccine safety and side effects. The report encouraged more interactive communication, such as responding to public queries on WhatsApp and social media.

Lockdown Level

The National State of Disaster lifted

Cumulative Cases

4 126 981

Cumulative Deaths

103 963

Cumulative Hospitalisations

For the period of 2023 in South Africa, there is no publicly released daily, weekly or even monthly continuing series of hospital admissions for COVID-19 through the DATCOV system after 31 December 2022. The NICD report states, "These daily COVID-19 hospitalisation reports have been discontinued from 31 December 2022". This implies that for 2023, hospitalisation data from that system are incomplete or not publicly reported in the same format.

Cumulative Recoveries

4 023 018

Number of vaccines administered for that week

2 638

Total number of vaccines administered to date

39285004

Geographical Region

Africa (South Africa)

Curators of the report

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