Quantification of Covid-19 Vaccine Coercion in India: A Survey Study

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionInformed consent is the cornerstone of medical ethics, enshrined in the constitution of most countries, as well as in international documents. However, mandates for Covid-19 vaccination as well as coercion was prevalent in many places in the world, including in India. Against this background, we did a cross sectional study to assess and quantify the extent of Covid-19 vaccine coercion in India.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted after obtaining ethical clearance from IIT Bombay. This survey was conducted using a pretested questionnaire anonymously amongst the college students and adults in Mumbai from October 2022 to December 2022. The questionnaire contained details of why the vaccine was taken, and if the participant was a student. Descriptive analysis was conducted and frequencies, percentages along with 95% confidence intervals were used to summarize the findings.ResultsA total of 483 participants responded, which included both students and non-students, of which 470 participants reported having taken the vaccine. A total of 106 (21.95%, 95% C.I. 18.48%-25.85%) reported to have pressured into taking the vaccine. The level of coercion was similar among college students 78 (21.61%, 95% C.I. 17.67%-26.14%) and non-student adults 28 (22.95%, 95% C.I. 15.82% – 31.43%).ConclusionA significant proportion was coerced into taking the vaccines, violating the requirement for informed consent. These results are of paramount importance for future policies as well as for posterity.