Social Listening Report Number 90: 04 September 2023

Title

Social Listening Report Number 90: 04 September 2023

Type of Report

Social Listening Report

Date

September 4, 2023

Key Trends In the Report

The national state of disaster was still lifted. Online discussions about COVID-19 vaccines had steadily declined. In the week leading up to 3 September 2023, 12,298 vaccines were administered, but public reactions were subdued compared to earlier phases. Misinformation persisted, including claims that COVID-19 was a lab-created flu and that hospitals were unsafe due to pharmaceutical profiteering. Anti-vaccine sentiments included accusations of propaganda, disbelief in COVID-19’s existence, and concerns about vaccine safety. Citizens continued to enquire about vaccination sites, but no official list was available. Complaints about public health services included negligence, poor service, and unresolved EVDS record issues.

Misinformation by Period

Some individuals falsely claimed that COVID-19 was a lab-created flu, designed for profit or control. Misinformation circulated that hospitals were unsafe, with accusations that they were colluding with pharmaceutical companies to exploit patients. Rumours suggested that vaccines were poisonous or part of a population control agenda. Misinformation included beliefs that vaccines would cause long-term harm or alter children's development.

Suggested Recommendations

The report recommended a Measles fact sheet and a Cholera fact sheet. Authorities were advised to intensify efforts to counter misinformation, especially around vaccine safety and COVID-19 origins. It was suggested that the Department of Health publish an updated list of vaccination sites, both public and private, to help citizens locate services more easily. The report recommended restoring SMS notifications for booster eligibility and vaccine schedules, as many users struggled to track their next dose. It was proposed that the Department clarify school-based vaccination procedures, especially regarding parental consent, to avoid misunderstandings and mistrust. Special attention was advised for immunocompromised children, with tailored messaging to reassure parents and caregivers.

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

2 639

Total number of vaccines administered to date

No Data

Geographical Region

South Africa, Malawi, Sudan, Mozambique. In total there were 13 countries in Africa affected by Cholera beginning of the year in 2023

Curators of the report

Charity

HST

NICD

ICDF

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