90% in India want colleagues to be fully vaccinated; 6.9 cr still hesitant to take jab

"Most workers across the world support vaccine and mask mandates and would feel uncomfortable going to work if these protections were not put in place," said the survey.

Sunainaa Chadha
  • Published On Dec 13, 2021 at 12:25 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Even though most companies are encouraging their employees to return to work, 90% in India believe they and their colleagues at workplaces should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, while 93% agree they should wear mask when in public places or in proximity with others, according to a global survey conducted by the World Economic Forum.

The survey covered over 14,000 respondents across 33 countries between 22 October and 5 November 2021, shortly before the emergence of the Omicron variant.

"Most workers across the world support vaccine and mask mandates and would feel uncomfortable going to work if these protections were not put in place," said the survey.

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High demand for vaccine mandates in developing countries
Support for protective mandates varies across countries. It is generally highest in Eastern and Southern Asia, Saudi Arabia, and Latin America, and lowest in Central and Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, and the United States.

Unsurprisingly, the countries where workers are most supportive of a vaccination mandate in the workplace are also those where workers are most likely to say they would choose to get vaccinated if required to do so or to undergo frequent testing to keep their job. While on average globally about two thirds (68%) say that’s what they would get vaccinated, it is the case of about four in five in China, Singapore, and South Korea vs. only about half in Russia, Poland, Romania, and Hungary.

On average across all countries surveyed, three in four employed adults agree they and people in their workplace should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (78%), undergo frequent testing if they are not vaccinated (74%), and wear a mask in common areas when in proximity with other people (81%).

Globally, 12% of workers would choose frequent testing instead. This would be the preferred option for at least 20% in Brazil, Chile, and Peru.

In Russia, Turkey, and the Netherlands the proportion of workers who would seek to evade getting vaccinated or tested, while still keeping their jobs is about double the global average of 9%.

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In Romania, Hungary, and the US, more than twice as many say they would quit their job or find another one than on average globally (5%).

India ranks among the top 1 0 countries in favour of vaccine and mask mandates
The study surveyed 500 respondents from India, specifying that the sample of some countries, including India, tended to be “more urban, educated, and/or affluent than the general population”. India ranked among the top 10 countries in favour of both vaccine and mask mandates, as well as frequent testing of unvaccinated workers. 29% of Indians would be uncomfortable going to work and would quuit their job if employees at the workplace were allowed to work without a mask.

On the parameter of supporting a vaccine mandate, India ranks fifth among the surveyed countries, preceded by China (97 per cent), Singapore (93 per cent), Malaysia (93 per cent), and Saudi Arabia (91 cent). The respondents least in favour of vaccine mandates were from Hungary (42 per cent), Russia (52 per cent), Poland (59 per cent), Switzerland (62 per cent), and the US (65 per cent).

Highly educated more likely to get vaccinated
At a global level, older workers and highly-educated workers are more likely to say they would get vaccinated than their peers who are younger or ended their formal education earlier.

Only 38% comfortable to go to workplace where there were no Covid mandates
Only 38 per cent of respondents said they were comfortable going to a workplace where there were no Covid mandates but 31 per cent said they would go to work even if they were uncomfortable, while 25 per cent said they would work remotely, and 6 per cent said they would quit their job.

Only seven of the countries surveyed show a majority of workers who would be comfortable going to work if employees at their workplace were allowed to work without wearing a mask, undergoing frequent COVID testing, or being vaccinated against COVID: Russia, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.S.

In China, where only 12% of workers would be comfortable in the absence of COVID-control restrictions in the workplace, two-thirds say would quit their job (18%) or work remotely instead (48%). Countries, where at least 40% say they would either resign or switch to remote-working, include Malaysia, Spain, South Korea, Japan, and Peru.

Uneven pace of return to the traditional workplace
In general, fewer employed adults are currently going to an office or another location away from home than were before the pandemic (66% vs. 77% on average globally). However, this trend is significantly more pronounced in certain countries and certain demographic groups.

Countries that show a drop off in the prevalence of out-of-home work from before the pandemic of more than 20 percentage points include Peru, Singapore, Great Britain, Chile, South Africa, Argentina, and Mexico.

On the other hand, several countries report a level that is close, if not higher, to what it was preCOVID: China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Denmark, and South Korea.

Of note, five countries show an increase in out-of-home work (presumably a return to the traditional workplace) of more than 10 points since June of this year: Argentina, Chile, India, France, and Sweden.

However, this survey was conducted before the discovery of the omicron variant in South Africa, which may have implications for workplace restrictions and in-person work habits.

6.96 crore Indians are currently estimated to be hesitant to take the COVID vaccine

Currently, India has 38 cases of the Omicron variant in India, which is why vaccine hesitancy in India is now lowest than ever. According to a survey conducted by local circles, the hesitant population has declined from 11.5 crore to 6.96 crore in the last 30 days.

"LocalCircles’ survey conducted in early October indicated that 7.04 crore citizens were hesitant to take the vaccine. This percentage increased to 11.59 crore in the similar survey in early November, and this latest one in December shows that only 6.96 crore citizens are now hesitant to take the COVID vaccine. Data analysis suggests that 38% of the citizens who were hesitant to get vaccinated are now willing to take the jab with Omicron cases rising in India."


Almost 82 crore adults have gotten their first dose already and another 2 crore will get it soon. Another 3 crore citizens may take it in the coming months as more vaccines come out and additional vaccine efficacy-variant data emerges. Of the 12 crore adults who haven’t taken the COVID vaccine yet, 17% willing to do so soon while another 25% may take it down the road. Then there are the 2.04 crore citizens who believe that they cannot take the vaccine due to a medical condition they currently have.

"It is the 6.96 crore population that must be the target of all vaccine awareness, sensitisation and information drives. India should design a campaign where all unvaccinated are outreached and those willing are asked to respond via SMS followed by a visit from a healthcare worker to their doorstep to vaccinate them.This will maximise results and ensure India can soon move to vaccinating those that are vulnerable, healthcare workers and senior citizens with a 3rd or booster dose," said Local Circles in a statement.
  • Published On Dec 13, 2021 at 12:25 PM IST
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