COVID-19: vaccines, myths and misconceptions in Africa

This paper presents myths and misconceptions regarding COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines in Africa. Vaccine related myths are a leading cause of suboptimal vaccine uptake in the African region. In areas with a highly conservative and low-literacy population, leadership and governance are largely hierarchical, with traditional, religious and political leaders being seen as the unquestionable custodians of decision-making in the society. The myths related to COVID-19 differ in content largely depending on four interconnected factors: socioeconomic status, literacy levels and religious therapies.