- As of October-November 2021, only about one-quarter (27%) of adult Namibians say they have received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine (Figure 1).
- Among those who don’t see themselves getting the jab, by far the most common reason (cited by 55% of respondents) is that they do not trust that the vaccine is safe and effective (Figure 2).
- To date, uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations is particularly low among the youngest adults (17% of 18- to 25-year-olds). Fewer women than men (23% vs. 31%) have received the jab. Namibians with a tertiary education (40%) have nearly double the vaccine uptake of the rest of the nation (Figure 3).
More than seven in 10 adult Namibians have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, and a majority of the unvaccinated say they are likely to stay that way, a recent Afrobarometer survey indicates.
About one in four adult citizens (27%) report having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the survey in late 2021. Another 27% say they are at least “somewhat likely” to get vaccinated, while 43% say they are unlikely to do so.
Among those who say they probably will not get vaccinated, distrust of regulatory agencies and the vaccine itself is by far the most commonly cited reason.
Vaccine hesitancy may have important implications for the country’s vulnerability to future waves of infections as well as its economic recovery, especially in the international tourism sector.
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