Survey detects overall willingness to accept Covid-19 vaccine in 19 countries

South Africans polled indicate 61% willingness

The national vaccination campaign is due to start on May 17 and aims to reach 46.2 million people by March 2022. Stock photo.
The national vaccination campaign is due to start on May 17 and aims to reach 46.2 million people by March 2022. Stock photo. (123RF/CHAYATORN LAORATTANAVECH)

Two-thirds of citizens polled in 19 African countries have indicated a willingness to accept Covid-19 vaccines.

But the sentiment varied across the continent, according to a report released by the Partnership for Evidence-Based Response to Covid-19 (PERC).

The consortium is made up of public health organisations such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC); Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies; the World Health Organisation; the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team; the World Economic Forum; and private sector firms such as market research company Ipsos.

The Africa CDC said in a statement on Wednesday that 91% of the people surveyed in Morocco were interested in receiving the vaccines, while Tunisia and Cameroon had the lowest interest at 35%.

South Africans polled indicated a 61% willingness. The same outcome was found in Zimbabwe. Nigeria ranked at 72% and Egypt 78%.

In Zambia the figure stood at 53%, Mozambique was 75%, Kenya 59% and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 52%.

TimesLIVE


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