Majority of South Africans prefer prayer to COVID shot

On Jul 30, 2021

SOUTH AFRICA: A majority of South Africans have said they are unlikely to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and almost half of them believe prayer is more effective against the virus, according to a survey. While 21% of the 1,600 respondents said they believed prayer and vaccines were equally effective in preventing coronavirus transmission, only a quarter of them believed vaccines are more effective than prayer. South Africans living in high levels of poverty and those below the age of 35 are most hesitant to get inoculated. On the other hand, half of the respondents with no formal schooling were more inclined to get vaccinated than those with at least a primary education. People living in urban areas showed less willingness to get vaccinated than rural residents.

Less than 10% of the South African population has received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and the survey, conducted by Afrobarometer, shows the hurdle in the government’s drive to vaccinate two-thirds of its citizens. The survey suggests that South Africans consider themselves well-informed about Covid-19 but do not trust the government to ensure the vaccines are safe.

South Africa has reported over 2.4 million Covid-19 cases and more than 70,000 related deaths. While about 7 million people have been administered at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, less than 3 million people have been fully vaccinated.

The Beta variant of coronavirus, first detected in South Africa, was behind the country’s disastrous second COVID wave.

– HINDUSTAN TIMES