Covid-19: young South Africans and the white population more reluctant to face the vaccine

Young South Africans and the white population are more reluctant than the rest of the population to go for vaccination (Illustrative image).

© Luis ROBAYO / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

In South Africa, the government wants to speed up vaccination against Covid-19.

It is preparing to open its vaccination centers to over 18s.

For the moment, only 7.2% of the population is vaccinated in this country which is among the most affected in Africa by the pandemic.

And although 72% say they “ 

accept

” the vaccine according to a study from the University of Johannesburg, some are reluctant.

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According to the

study from the University of Johannesburg

, whites who represent 9% of the population in South Africa are the most skeptical of the vaccine.

Only half of white adults plan to be vaccinated, compared to 75% of their black compatriots, explains researcher Carin Ruciman.

"

The white adult population seems to be much more concerned by the side effects and the effectiveness of the vaccine than other groups,"

notes the researcher

.

For example 52% of white adults say they are concerned about side effects, which is twice as much as black adults.

Note that this white population also shows its preference for alternative medicines.

"

The other dubious group is that of young people between 18 and 24 years old, all ethnicities combined.

45% of them say they are reluctant to vaccinate.

Trust issue

Side effects, ineffectiveness ... There is also a problem of confidence, for all categories combined, underlines researcher Narnia Bohler-Muller.

Additionally, the press revealed this week that Johnson & Johnson vaccines packaged in South Africa had been

exported to Europe

, as the country battled a third wave.

"

I think the latest revelations on the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will further erode this confidence in the private sector,

" according to Narnia Bohler-Muller.

Several NGOs are also protesting against South Africa's export of anti-Covid vaccines to Europe and the United States to the detriment of African countries

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  • South Africa

  • Vaccines

  • Coronavirus

  • Health and medicine