Two thirds of adults willing to take COVID-19 vaccine: Research

Two-thirds of adults are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, according to findings from the latest University of Johannesburg and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) COVID Democracy Survey.

The analysis is based on over 10 000 completed questionnaires that were weighted by race, education and age, making findings broadly representative of the total adult population.

COVID-19 Vaccine | In conversation with Prof. Salim Abdool Karim

While many countries around the world have already begun vaccination programmes, South Africa expects its first batch of vaccines by the end of this month.

“Fifty-two percent definitely would take a COVID-19 vaccine if it was available. 14% probably would. 12% definitely would not. 6% probably would not. And 15% are don’t knows. It’s a very significant number of people wanting to take the vaccine and this is an important figure partly because it’s higher than figures that have come out in other recent surveys and partly, because it begins to take us towards the point where one can see the possibility of there being herd immunity or population immunity if the vaccine becomes available in the near future,” says Professor Kate Alexander, South African Research Chair in Social Change at the University of Johannesburg.

Readiness of healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccination: COVID-19 vaccination