Prof. Carin Runciman, Associate Professor at Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg.

TheTakeOffInterview| The Centre for Social Change (CSC), University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) have published a new research briefing on the public’s willingness to take a Covid-19 vaccine, and reasons for their decision. The findings show that the majority of respondents are willing to take a vaccine.67% of adults would definitely or probably take a vaccine if it available.18% of adults would definitely or probably not take a vaccine.15% of adults did not know.However, the research also shows that race, education and age play a role in shaping vaccine acceptance.69% of Black African adults would definitely or probably take the vaccine (that is, ‘acceptance’), compared with 55% of white adults.Acceptance among adults with less than matric-level education was 72%, compared with 59% for those with tertiary education.Acceptance was 63% among adults aged 18-24, and 74% for those aged 55 and older.The survey also focused on the politics of the participants, with the municipal elections scheduled for later this year.In terms of voting intention, acceptance was as follows. ANC: 78%, DA: 65%, EFF: 62%, other parties: 67%. Among those who did not intend to vote, acceptance was much lower, only 48%.Meanwhile, 73% of respondents believed President Ramaphosa was doing either a good or very good job in managing the Covid-19 outbreak, while 36% felt he was doing a bad or very bad job.