The impact of Social media on Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy on the University of Namibia main campus students

Abstract

With the introduction of vaccines against the outbreak of COVID-19, a pandemic that has affected many sectors of every existing country globally, a panic among youths rooting from social media towards these vaccines has been identified. A study that would explore this possibility of social media involvement in COVID-19 hesitancy was conducted. The study mainly focused on why students happened to show hesitancy towards these COVID-19 vaccines. In order to collect data, the researcher carried out a survey conducted among a reasonable sample, a non-experimental method which is under quantitative research method. After compiling a Google Form online based questionnaire, the data was analysed using Microsoft Excel Analysis ToolPak. From these research findings, it was established that UNAM Main Campus students have access to at least one social media platform that facilitated posts or publications on COVID-19 vaccines most of which were negative. It was also found that the same news on social media about COVID-19 vaccines did not persuade students to get vaccinated, this was due to its opinion towards the vaccines. The study recommends that UNAM utilizes these same platforms which students access the most in future campaigns to make sure the message shared to most of the target audience if not all.