Vaccine hesitancy, vaccine misinformation and vaccine conspiracy have become a major challenge to public health, with low vaccine uptake resulting in the uncontrolled spread of diseases and death in some instances. Our research in this regard examines the drivers of vaccine hesitancy in South Africa and the nature of misinformation and conspiracy theories circulating in South Africa. Further, we are evaluating the communication strategies and materials disseminated by public health practitioners in their efforts to address vaccine hesitancy. Notably, the research highlights that pro-vaccine communication is about more than simply presenting evidence about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Vaccine communication needs to foster public trust in the public health system and its practitioners.
Principal Investigator: Dr Rebecca Pointer