Some religious leaders 'have fuelled' South Africans' hesitancy to take Covid-19 vaccines

Suthentira Govender - 
© Provided by Times Live


Conspiracy theories, the belief that one could be saved from Covid-19 only by faith in God, and that vaccines are the work of the devil and corrupt DNA have fuelled vaccine hesitancy among some South Africans.

This is what emerged at a University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) discussion among experts on how religious institutions, beliefs, leaders, and practices are contributing to the pandemic.

Dr Mayashree Chinsamy of the DST-NRF Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems at UKZN said studies on current vaccination rates in different parts of the world, including SA, indicate they are lower than what governments and health organisations anticipated.

Chinsamy said medical communication and information on vaccines tend to be shared in a digital space “in which marginalised communities and social groups have no or limited access or cultural association”.

“Most governments, especially in developing countries, have not managed to invest adequately as strategic partnerships with local community leadership, opinion makers including spiritual organisations, to effectively communicate and disseminate critical information on pandemics including Covid-19 and associated vaccines.

“The focus has tended to be on partnerships with pharmaceutical companies with whom local communities have no relationship or connection in any context.”

Suleman Dangor, emeritus professor at the university's school of religion, said while the majority of Muslim theologians, doctors and scientists in SA advocated for Covid-19 vaccination, a minority of vocal religious leaders opposed it and fuelled hesitancy among their followers.

“There is a small minority of Muslim doctors who are opposed to vaccination, but this is primarily because they are not sure the vaccines will work or whether they have harmful effects. But a few of them are also influenced by theologians.

“The overwhelming majority of Muslim scholars in SA are in support of vaccination. The evidence is that the United Ulama Council of SA, the largest theological group, supports it. The general Muslim public is influenced by doctors, scientists and theologians when it comes to issues of health including vaccination and are favourably disposed to vaccination.”

But Dangor said there is a “sizeable minority who are either opposed to vaccines or hesitant”.

“For some their hesitancy is based on science, where they are not sure that the vaccines are safe enough and argue that they were not enough trials conducted to convince people that the vaccines actually work.

“Some Muslims are very big on conspiracy theories. The one assumption is that there is a plan to reduce the world's population through vaccines.

“Those theologians opposed to vaccinations may refuse to be vaccinated and also advise their followers to do the same. They give talks in the mosques, and although they are a minority, they are quite vocal.

“They believe people will die at their appointed time, so it doesn’t matter whether they take the vaccine or not.

“Some also claim that the vaccines contain 'Haram' — meaning not permissible for Muslims — substances. Scholars have spoken to scientists and they know that the ingredients are permissible.”

Dangor said some theologians argue that vaccination is not necessary if people have strong faith in God.

“There is no doubt that a substantial number of Muslims are influenced by theologians. However fortunately the majority of theologians in SA support vaccination and have also publicly announced that they have received it.”

Rev Siphiwe Ndebele, national executive president of the Baptist Convention of SA, said many Christians leaders supported vaccines, but some used their religious authority to mislead people against it.

“We need to accept that there has been a threat to vaccinations. The SA Council of Churches (SACC) identified a threat by some church leaders against it. Some pastors have used their religious authority to mislead people and place their faith in God rather than medical practice.

“Some suggest that God is punishing us because they view Covid-19 as God's wrath.

“SACC and other religious bodies continue their advocacy for all South Africans to be vaccinated.

“The belief that Covid vaccines will change the DNA of people, that it is satanic, that it contains human or animal remains and that it is the mark of the beast according to some Christians, has brought a greater challenge to church leaders.

“Many religious organisations from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith have continued with their advocacy for vaccinations, arguing that refusal is a sign of foolishness and not faithfulness.”

Ndebele said some religious leaders have promoted Holy Communion as Covid-19 medicine and some have stated that Jesus is their vaccine security and immunity from the virus.

He said it has been a battle to combat these “teachings against Covid vaccines, without being perceived as attacking someone's religion”.

“The religious sector has had to stand up and correct the wrong doctrine publicly.

“Another curveball was thrown by former chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in his published prayer when he said 'if there be any Covid-19 vaccine, that is the work of the devil, meant to infuse 666 in the lives of people, meant to corrupt their DNA, may it be destroyed by fire'.

“In the mind of the ordinary man this sounded as if the former chief justice is against vaccination. The real danger of that statement, is that it decreased the public trust in vaccines, especially at a time when the country was starting to roll out vaccinations.”