Social Listening Report Number 77: 28 November 2022
- Title
- Social Listening Report Number 77: 28 November 2022
- Type of Report
- Social Listening Report
- Date
- November 28, 2022
- Key Trends In the Report
- The national state of disaster was still lifted. Unfounded claims about COVID-19 vaccines, including conspiracy theories like “mass genocide” and depopulation, had continued circulating online. The 7th World Assembly of the Global Campaign for Education drew significant online interest, especially around COVID-related learning losses. The NICD’s research on Long COVID gained traction, with public concern about its long-term effects, especially in people with diabetes. Engagement around booster doses increased, driven by HealthZA’s campaign. Rising COVID-19 cases led to public anxiety over sick individuals not wearing masks in public spaces.
- Misinformation by Period
- It had been falsely claimed that booster shots caused illness, heart failure, and blood clots.Misinformation suggested that vaccines did not prevent the spread of COVID-19, leading to confusion and hesitancy. Social media posts had linked Long COVID to genetic changes and increased risks of heart disease, which had no scientific basis. Despite legal restrictions, some users continued promoting ivermectin as a cure for COVID-19.
- Suggested Recommendations
- Health authorities had been encouraged to strengthen measles vaccination efforts, especially for children under 12. With the malaria transmission season underway, it was advised that provinces and sectors work together to raise awareness and encourage preventive measures. The public was urged to wear masks when experiencing flu-like symptoms to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Continued promotion of booster shots was advised to maintain immunity, especially against emerging variants. It was recommended that health communicators actively counter false claims about vaccines, boosters, and COVID-19.
- Lockdown Level
- The National State of Disaster lifted
- Cumulative Cases
- 4 040 939
- Cumulative Deaths
- 104 541
- Cumulative Hospitalisations
- 545 513
- Cumulative Recoveries
- 3 936 398
- Total number of vaccines administered to date
- 37 961 555
- Geographical Region
- Africa (South Africa)
- Curators of the report
- Charity Bhengu
- Nombulelo Leburu
- Herkulaas Combrink
- 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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