South Africa’s Response to COVID-19: Realities and Challenges of the Vaccination Roll-Out Process

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Abstract The paper provides a critical analysis of the South African government’s economic response to the COVID-19 crisis and the current roll-out of vaccinations in South Africa. In preparation for the vaccination roll-out, South Africa set up national strategic committees to facilitate the smooth distribution of the vaccination process. However, despite being one of the first African countries to receive the vaccines, the effective roll-out is still ranked low. The paper used qualitative descriptive analysis to discuss the strategies promoting community understanding and limiting vaccination misinformation. The findings project that the government must deliver an effective and protected vaccine to reduce morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. However, the mere accessibility of a vaccine is not enough to secure extensive immunological security; the immunisation must be accepted by all stakeholders and the public in the country. Vaccine uncertainty is a primary impediment to vaccine acceptance and the achievement of people’s immunity, which is mandatory to protect the marginalised populations in the country. The paper concludes that various strategic efforts made by the South Africa government to deal with the disease and the roll-out of vaccination in responding to COVID-19 remains a significant challenge. It then recommends that there should be a coordinated approach by both government and stakeholders to ensure effective distribution and reduce the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the country.