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The pandemic has altered the world in numerous ways. One of the most notable is how people perceive medical breakthroughs, such as vaccines.
Moreover, various people have expressed their displeasure with the government’s consideration of vaccine mandates. But how do the majority of South Africans feel about mandatory COVID-19 vaccines?
According to a new study released this week, slightly more than half of the general public supports mandatory vaccination at work.
In the study conducted by the University of Johannesburg and the Human Sciences Research Council, 54% of the 6633 people interviewed between October and November agreed that employers should have the right to make vaccinations mandatory in the workplace.
Support for requiring proof of vaccination to enter public spaces (so-called vaccine passports) was slightly lower, at 51%. Some of the remaining respondents were neutral to the measures rather than opposed to them.
Who is in support of vaccine mandates?
The research team sliced the results by location, education level, race and age.
They found higher support for the workplace mandates among people in rural areas (59%), followed by those in informal settlements (57%) and township and RDP housing (57%).
Participants in suburban areas were the least supportive of workplace mandates (37%).
Higher levels of education were linked to more opposition to mandatory vaccines and passports. Only about 40% of participants with post-matric education supported the measures, compared to around 60% of those with less than a matric.
By race, black and Indian adults were the most supportive of mandates and passports, with white South Africans expressing the most opposition: when asked separately about mandates and passports, only one in three (32%) of white participants indicated support.
Workplace vaccination was supported by 65% of Indian adults, 56% of black participants, and 49% of coloured participants. Passports were supported by 54% of black adults, 51% of Indian adults, and 46% of coloured South Africans.
Younger South Africans were marginally more supportive of workplace mandates, although slightly less on board with vaccine passports. There were no discernible gender differences.
However, it is clear that opinions are divided within each of these groups. Reports that the vaccines are likely to be less effective against the Omicron virus may have an impact on support for mandatory vaccinations. Researchers believe that vaccinations will still provide some protection against severe disease and will thus be critical in reducing hospital admissions. Furthermore, a Pfizer–BioNTech study found that a third jab raised neutralising antibodies to a level comparable to two jabs against other variants.
Stark divisions
Unsurprisingly, the most pronounced differences in attitudes toward mandatory vaccines were between South Africans who are fully vaccinated and those who do not wish to be vaccinated.
The research team also asked participants if they supported vaccine passports for specific public spaces. These levels of support were slightly lower than general agreement on vaccine passports, falling just short of the halfway point.
Just under half (47%) supported requiring proof of vaccination for sporting events; 43% to 45% supported it for restaurants, cafes, shisa nyamas, and the like.
Fewer people (40%) supported mandatory vaccinations for entry into places of worship.
“I suspect that when specific suggestions are given, the issue becomes more salient or real to the respondents, and this is when a modest share become more uncertain or even averse to the suggestion,” said the HSRC’s Dr Benjamin Roberts.
Co-author Prof Narnia Bohler Muller adds, “I was hoping there would be more support for vaccine mandates as it is almost inevitable that we will have to introduce such mandates as many other countries have.”
What are your thoughts in light of this? Share your views in the comment section below.
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Comments 1
Although the vaccine assist with the severity of symptoms when contracting Covid, I am still against it at this stage. As a person with a lot of comobilities and over 60, I ensure to follow all covid protocol as not to put myself or anybody else at risk. I drink all my vitamins required to boost my immune system. Why I do not believe in the vaccine is that with every variant you need to have a booster whereby if your own immune system fights it you should not require these boosters. I know of to many people that have had the jub and got sick and even passed away. Therefor I do not believe to make it mandatory and creating a so-called Covid passport.