Conspiracy theories rise in Africa

Conspiracy theories, mistrust and patchy communication have contributed to a flourishing of scepticism about Covid-19 vaccines in Africa, experts say, posing potential dangers to future immunisation campaigns.

Anti-vaccine sentiment, often fed by rumours spread on social media, is thriving in the West and a similar dynamic is at play across Africa, according to public health experts, with people warier of Covid-19 jabs than they would be of other vaccines.

“There is a high level of scepticism,” said Ayoade Alakija, the chief Africa strategist for Convince, a campaign to encourage confidence in Covid-19 vaccines. Explanations for this vary, she explained, noting that suspicion of government elites and vaccine misinformation play a role.

One prevalent conspiracy theory holds the Covid-19 vaccines are designed to quell Africa’s population growth. Scepticism extends to the tops of some governments, too. In late January, Tanzania’s President John Magufuli dismissed Covid jabs as “dangerous”.

Many African countries are currently battling a surge in coronavirus cases but few have seen outbreaks as large as in the West, which some argue has led to less urgency. Most African countries are also months away – at best– from beginning vaccinations.

Moise Shitu, a driver in Nigeria, said he would refuse a vaccine. The picture isn’t uniform. Waiters interviewed in a cafe in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa were keen to receive a vaccine, for example.

Although hesitancy about new vaccines is common, Mamadou Traore, a vaccination advisor for Doctors Without Borders, said the phenomenon is now “much worse”. “People told themselves this isn’t an illness that affects black people,” he said.

In December, the Africa Centres for Disease Control released the results of an 18-country survey showing only a quarter of respondents thought Covid-19 vaccines would be safe.