ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
The surge in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has put the scientific community on overdrive to come up with a cure and/or possible vaccine to curtail the menace this virus has caused. Considering the morbidity rate from the Coronavirus and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for healthy living, this review examined and documented the possible options of plant-based immune boosters for attaining wellness and protect against infections caused by viruses. This review documented 106 plants consumed largely in Africa as food or medicine after assessing over 172 articles from notable search engines. These plants were reported for antiviral activities and immune boosters for attaining wellness and immunomodulation, a key protective feature against infections caused by viruses. The documented plants contain several immune-modulating compounds like vitamins, flavonoids, phenols, macro, and micronutrients, which might be the possible reason for the current leverage on the mortality rate associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent. The study, therefore, concluded that medicinal/food plants are able to enhance healthy living and medicinal plants are a significant source of phytomedicinal content for the management of viral-induced diseases such as COVID-19. © 2022 Nickan Research Institute. All rights reserved.