Dilemmas Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Public hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines stands out as an obstinate barrier to Zimbabwe’s ability to stamp out the ongoing pandemic and steer the country back to socioeconomic normalcy and stability. This qualitative study unpacked the hesitancy factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Zimbabwe. The study used an exploratory research design and collected its data from social media platforms. Findings demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy posed some significant challenges in Zimbabwe. Indications were that hesitancy towards the vaccines was informed by a plurality of factors, which inter alia included safety and efficacy concerns, perceived social character of the vaccine basing on its country of origin, accessibility, people’s socio-cultural and religious beliefs, as well as factors relating to the administrative aspects of the vaccination program. Social work has an important role to play in educating and promoting society to embrace vaccines. This is because continued defiance and/or delay in the uptake of the vaccines is tantamount to mortgaging people’s lives and livelihoods on the altar of fear and baseless hesitancy.