Unvaccinated people will pay higher insurance premiums. Photo: Cover Images
Vaccine latest: White South Africans MOST hesitant to get jabs – study
Government recently admitted that a large number of people were not lining up for vaccines because of hesitancy
Unvaccinated people will pay higher insurance premiums. Photo: Cover Images
There has growing concern over the level of vaccine hesitancy in the country, something which poses as a potential hinderance to the current roll-out. While some South Africans have been lining up for the COVID-19 vaccine, others have been skeptical about heeding the call to get their own jabs. A study has shown that most of those who hesitant about being administered are white adults.
The study was conducted by the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Change and the Human Sciences Research Council.
“Vaccine acceptance declined amongst White adults from 56% to 52%, while it increased from 69% to 75% for Black African adults. However, White adults were more likely than Black Africans to have been vaccinated (16% compared to 10%),” it found in part.
That’s not all: The study also found that younger people are less likely to be accepting of vaccines than older people.
“While the acceptance rate for those aged 55+ stood at 85%, an increase of 11 percentage points since Round 3. But for the 18-24 group it was only 55%, a decline of 8 percentage points,” the researchers said.
Vaccine hesitancy: What else did the study find?
The UJ study has also revealed that religion did not play a big role in influencing a person’s decision to get their jab, contrary to other surveys.
“Amongst those that are hesitant, side effects and concerns that the vaccine will be ineffective are the most common self-reported explanations. Concerns about side-effects and effectiveness of the vaccine are particularly pronounced amongst White adults, the most vaccine-hesitant group”
Study
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) recently voiced its concerns over doctors who have been discourage people against getting vaccinated. This was prompted by reports of healthcare workers who have advised people not to get their jabs – based on their own doubts about its effectiveness and safety.
Dr Susan Vosloo, a prominent medical expert made bombshell claims about the vaccine, including how it is much riskier than the virus itself. Her peers were quick to react and dispel her claim, labelling it as false and not proven by overwhelming evidence.
All this comes as government has revealed that less people are getting jabbed due to hesitancy.
