“What I know about the Covid-19 vaccine is what I see on social media, that if you inject yourself with this vaccine, within a couple of hours you are going to be dead.”
This is what Zodwa Sepotokele, a 49-year-old tavern owner from Orlando East in Soweto told this newspaper two weeks ago during a snap survey of what ordinary folk understood about the Covid-19 vaccine.
Admittedly, Sepotokele’s flawed perceptions about the jab may not necessarily constitute those of the majority of people. But they demonstrate the power of false narratives that have been created about the vaccine.
They also highlight the urgent need for a coherent, effective government communication strategy about the vaccine as well as its imminent rollout to the country.
In his weekly newsletter on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns that the government was not adequately transparent about its procurement and rollout.
He said the government was by and large constrained by the non-disclosure agreements signed with manufacturers. While this is understandable to some degree, it does not explain the absence of an efficient communication outreach plan to educate communities about innoculation.
Also important, it does not explain why there is no clearly articulated strategy on how government will roll it out as speedily as possible.
This week Ramaphosa said a comprehensive rollout strategy and an accompanying logistical framework would be implemented in partnership with the private sector, civil society, traditional leadership, the religious sector and others. “It is vital that this is a society-wide campaign, in which everyone is involved and no-one is left behind,” he said.
This indicates that government is aware of the social infrastructure and networks we should use to reach as many people as possible. However, there does not appear to be urgency to get these social partners geared up as soon as possible for what needs to be done.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Professor Ian Sanne, who heads Right to Care and sits on the ministerial advisory committee, correctly stated that government should by now be working on a plan to outline what happens when the vaccines land.
We can no longer afford to be complacent over a matter on which our very survival depends.
LISTEN | Dr Anban Pillay answers our vaccine questions
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