Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Using Reverse Genetics to Manipulate the NSs Gene of the Rift Valley Fever Virus MP-12 Strain to Improve Vaccine Safety and Efficacy
Published on: November 1, 2011
Fake news and fallacies: Exploring vaccine hesitancy in South Africa
Avania Bangalee1, Varsha Bangalee
1Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Prinshof Campus, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg. avania.bangalee@up.ac.za.
Abstract:
Historically, vaccine hesitancy (VH) has been a thorn in the side of public health efforts to contain and eradicate infectious diseases. This phenomenon is magnified in light of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Surveys conducted across South Africa since the outbreak of COVID-19 demonstrate the complexity of factors that contribute towards VH in this population. Amidst the negative press that the COVID-19 vaccine has received, especially across social media, understanding and combatting VH remains important to achieve herd immunity. This article aims to shed light on key factors fuelling COVID-19 VH in South Africa and provides a framework from which to address this problem.
Related Concept Videos
Vaccinations
False Memories
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information...
Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Social Proof
Confirmation Biases

