African Union (AU), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the ONE Campaign have launched a TikTok campaign to counter misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines on social media.

This campaign – under the hashtag #MythOrVax – aims to dispel myths and correct inaccurate information about Covid-19 while addressing ongoing fears and concerns and raising awareness about the importance of vaccinations.

Phase one of the campaign, which is open to the public, kicks off with a Quiz that tests TikTok users’ knowledge of Covid-19 vaccines.

A May 2021 survey conducted by Geopoll found that only 48 percent of people across six major African countries would take the opportunity to get the vaccine right away if it was available.

That figure was down from 62 percent in November 2020, further illustrating the impact of continued negative information about the vaccine.

While the low vaccination rates in Africa are predominantly attributed to limited availability and supply bottlenecks, low vaccine confidence in the continent threatens to undermine the fight against the pandemic.

The second phase of the campaign, which begins in September, will bring together prominent African celebrities and experts, including Yemi Alade, Pearl Thusi, Sauti Sol, Maps Maponyane.

‘While the rise of vaccine hesitancy is not solely an African phenomenon, its effects on the continent are particularly damaging given the low vaccination rates attributable to supply constraints and slow rollouts’, Africa Executive Director of the ONE Campaign, Edwin Ikhuoria, said.

‘As Africa continues the fight to secure and administer lifesaving vaccines, it is imperative that all stakeholders actively address the misinformation and disinformation on vaccines which fuels hesitancy. Failure to do so threatens to cripple Africa’s pandemic response’.

Also speaking, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Mohamed Fall, said, ‘Young people in Africa have many questions about Covid-19 vaccines.

‘Their search for vaccine-related answers is often online where they are met with a deluge of information, including misinformation and rumors.

‘The “Myth or Vax” initiative will help to further engage young people in learning about Covid-19 vaccines and to clarify some of the common misconceptions that are circulating’.

For her part, Head of the Youth Development Division at the AU Commission, Prudence Ngwenya, said, ‘We are very excited to launch a campaign that addresses vaccine hesitancy with our partners.

‘Our role as the youth division at the African Union Commission is to mobilise young people and create an enabling environment for them to make positive actions.

‘Covid-19 undoubtedly disrupted a lot of our lives and with the development of vaccines around the world a lot of the truth has gotten lost in the skepticism, so we thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to correct some myths and in the process create exciting and memorable content that will resonate with Africa’s youth’.

Source: UNICEF

Photo source: Africa CDC