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

Informed consent is the cornerstone of medical ethics, enshrined in the constitution of most countries, as well as in international documents. However, mandates for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination as well as coercion were 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.

A cross-sectional study was conducted after obtaining ethical clearance from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB). This survey was conducted using a pretested questionnaire anonymously amongst 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.

A 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% CI 18.48%-25.85%) reported to have been pressured into taking the vaccine. The level of coercion was similar among college students (78, 21.61%, 95% CI 17.67%-26.14%) and non-student adults (28, 22.95%, 95% CI 15.82%-31.43%).  Conclusion: A 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.