Vaccine hesitancy becoming more entrenched among unvaxxed –

Leading epidemiologist Dr Jo Barnes on Friday warned of Covid ‘s long – standing effects, a new study by the University of Cape Town (UCT) found that vaccine hesitation was becoming entwined with a sample of South Africans are unvaccinated, and few believe that vaccine hesitation has become widespread. that a vaccine was needed or effective. Barnes has long said that “Covid is another area of ​​concern, as many of those who are permanently or severely affected will need rehabilitation or long – term care”. “Insufficient public health facilities were available before the pandemic began – many sufferers could be left without adequate treatment,”

Leading epidemiologist Dr Jo Barnes on Friday warned of Covid ‘s long – standing effects, a new study by the University of Cape Town (UCT) found that vaccine hesitation was becoming entwined with a sample of South Africans are unvaccinated, and few believe that vaccine hesitation has become widespread. that a vaccine was needed or effective.

Barnes said at length Covid “This was another area of ​​concern, as many of those with a permanent or serious impact will require rehabilitation or long-term care”.

“There were not enough public health facilities available before the pandemic began – many sufferers could be left without proper treatment,” said Barnes.

“Long Covid upsets some people in ways we are slowly beginning to resolve and understand.

There is no reason to expect that this debilitating condition will simply go away when a new alternative emerges. ”

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The study, led by Dr Brendan Maughan-Brown and Dr Katherine Eyal of UCT’s South Africa’s Labor and Development Research Unit, found that attitudes towards vaccination were growing, and were not Most of those questioned intend to get vaccinated.

Of a sample of 3 510 people surveyed in November and December last year for vaccination, 36% said “not sure” and 24% said “only if necessary”.

Only 18% intended to be vaccinated “as soon as possible”.

“We noticed a significant change of mindset among unvaccinated people from survey 1 in November and December 2021, when the majority said ‘as soon as possible’ or ‘wait and see’.

“In survey 2, only 29% thought they would get vaccinated by May, which is much lower than planned in survey 1,” Maughan-Brown said.

He said high-risk groups are less likely to seek vaccination than those without chronic conditions.

“Only 19% of respondents with a chronic illness want to be vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said. Eyal said access and incentives remained crucial for vaccination.