Vaccines: why these young Africans are hesitant about them and what might change their minds

By Oluwaseyi Dolapo Somefun, Research associate, University of the Western Cape
Marisa Casale, Extraordinary Professor, University of the Western Cape

Vaccines have proved to be one of the most effective tools in fighting infectious diseases, but convincing people to get vaccinated can be tough. Especially young people.

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, declared by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020, many countries reported high levels of vaccine hesitancy among younger population groups. Negative healthcare experiences and general distrust of government have cultivated vaccine hesitancy across Africa. Misleading information about…

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