Précaution ou prévention? Des responsabilités de la politique et de la société pendant la gestion de la pandémie de COVID-19 au Bénin. [Precaution or prevention? The responsibilities of politics and society in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Benin]

One of the key strategies adopted in the fight against COVID-19 in Benin was the gradual vaccination of the population. However, the vaccination campaign did not run smoothly; many issues surfaced regarding the vaccine sentiment and acceptability. This article aims to analyse and understand such controversies and motivations through data collected via interviews with the local population. The analysis of the interviews shows that the political strategies requiring collaboration with the population lack effectiveness because they are not adapted to the local context, leading to possible confusion, distrust, and the generation of conspiracy theories that have hindered the fight against COVID-19 since the very beginning. © 2024