Campaigners in Zimbabwe have been trying to persuade hesitant members of Apostolic church groups to get vaccinated against COVID-19, amid pervasive disinformation. Apostolic groups that infuse traditional beliefs into a Pentecostal doctrine are among the most skeptical in Zimbabwe when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, with an already strong mistrust of modern medicine.
Many followers put faith in prayer, holy water and anointed stones to ward off disease or cure illnesses. There has been little detailed research on Apostolic churches in Zimbabwe but UNICEF studies estimate it is the largest religious denomination with around 2.5 million followers in a country of 15 million.
The conservative groups adhere to a doctrine demanding that followers avoid medicines and medical care and instead seek healing through their faith.
Zimbabwe has fully vaccinated 15% of its population, much better than many other African nations but still way behind the U.S. and Europe.
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Data source: seytoo