The Science-spirituality Nexus: Religion and the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in Tanzania

The influence of religion on health seeking behaviour is well document in the public health literature. However, the extent to which religious discourses and practices contributed to scepticism towards COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine uptake, and indecisiveness in intention to be vaccinated in Tanzania has not yet been established.

To explore the nexus between religion and public health in the measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania by empirically examining how religious actors in opposed the first phased of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns before becoming key supporters of the same campaigns in the second phase.

The study was conducted in eight regions representing key administrative zones of Mainland Tanzania.

The article draws on empirical evidence from exploratory mixed-method study combining focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant and semi-structured interviews.

We found that religious narratives and practices in relation to the pandemic were quite dynamic but influential in shaping individuals' decisions including on whether or not to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Religious anti-COVID-19 vaccine narratives accounted for the slow COVID-19 vaccine uptake but when religious leaders were later mobilised to support the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the vaccine uptake in Tanzania improved considerably.

The study concludes that religious actors play a significant role in influencing public health behaviours, particularly in vaccine uptake.

Future public health measures designed to increase vaccine uptake should not overlook the salient role of religious actors in the promotion desired health practices and outcomes.