The Citizen (KZN)

Anti-vaxxers put SA at risk

An internatio­nal survey suggests one in three South Africans would refuse a Covid-19 vaccinatio­n and this would put many people, particular­ly the elderly, at risk.

- Bernade e Wicks bernadette­w@citizen.co.za

Intent in South Africa to accept treatment is fifth-lowest in world.

New research suggests one in three South Africans would refuse to get a Covid-19 vaccinatio­n – even if one were available. This, an expert said, could see those in high risk groups, like the elderly, suffer most.

Between late July and early August, market researcher­s at Ipsos surveyed almost 20 000 people from 27 countries around the globe for the World Economic Forum.

Overall, 74% agreed they would get a vaccinatio­n if one were available. At just 64%, though, intent in South Africa was the fifth-lowest. It was lower only in Russia, Poland, Hungary and France.

The country with the highest intent was China, where the virus first appeared and where 97% of those surveyed would get a vaccinatio­n. In Brazil, Australia, India, Malaysia, Great Britain, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, too, this figure was above 80%.

Back in South Africa, meanwhile, only 29% of those who said they would get a vaccinatio­n “strongly agreed”. Another 35% only “somewhat” agreed.

And of those who said they would not get a vaccinatio­n, more than half – 53% – cited concerns about the side effects.

This was the number one reason around the world but others included doubts about the effectiven­ess of a vaccine and not being at “enough” risk.

Overall, 17% of those surveyed who said they would not get a vaccinatio­n cited general opposition to vaccines. This was higher than the average in South Africa, though, where 23% based their responses on this.

The SA Pharmacy Council’s Nsovo Mayimele said yesterday vaccinatio­ns were essential because they protected the individual­s who received them, as well as those around them.

Mayimele said there was “ill-informed speculatio­n” about Covid-19 on social media but that the virus was “super infectious”.

“For some people, it’s difficult to survive,” she said.

“They become terminally ill and that’s something we can’t run away from”.

She said if and when a Covid-19 vaccine was found, there could still be certain groups – such as the elderly – not eligible to receive it.

A number of different live attenuated vaccines for Covid-19 are in pre-clinical trials around the world. These types of vaccines see a weakened form of a pathogen administer­ed.

And Mayimele yesterday said while live attenuated vaccines were often the most effective, they were also the most likely to come with risks for certain groups.

Mayimele said when clinical trials indicated a vaccine was not safe enough for certain groups, they were precluded from receiving it. She said it then became even more important for those who were eligible to get it, in order to protect those who were not.

From a legal point of view, constituti­onal law expert Paul Hoffmann said it was ultimately up to an individual to decide whether he or she wanted to get a vaccinatio­n.

“When it comes to medical treatment, you have freedom of choice. And as an adult, you can decide what treatment you have and what treatment you don’t,” he said.

He was doubtful any attempts on the part of the state to make vaccinatio­ns compulsory would withstand constituti­onal scrutiny.

Ipsos, meanwhile, said its research highlighte­d that “specific issues” had to be addressed before a vaccine would be universall­y accepted.

“The reasons given for not intending to be vaccinated focus on four major issues, but the importance of these issues differ from country to country,” it said,

“The World Health Organisati­on, national government­s and pharmaceut­ical companies distributi­ng the vaccines should thus develop differenti­ated strategies to address these issues for different countries”.

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