81% of Brazilians support ‘vaccine passport’ for indoors, says Datafolha

A portion of 81% of the Brazilian population is in favor of presenting proof of vaccination against Covid for entry into closed places, such as offices, bars, restaurants and concert halls, according to a survey by Datafolha.

Another 18% are against charging for the vaccination “passport”, and 1% did not know how to respond.

The survey also shows an increase in the population’s perception of the lack of control of the pandemic, amid the advance of cases driven by the ômicron variant.

The survey was carried out by telephone on January 12 and 13, with 2,023 people aged 16 and over in all Brazilian states. The margin of error is plus or minus two percentage points.

The measure has already been adopted in isolation by several states, municipalities and economic sectors. However, opposition to the vaccine passport is a banner of the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) administration.

At the end of December, the Minister of Education, Milton Ribeiro, published an opinion that said it was not possible to require proof of vaccination in universities and federal institutes. The act, however, was suspended by the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Ricardo Lewandowski.

According to Datafolha, the highest percentage in favor of the measure occurs among women (87%), people over 60 years old (87%), with elementary education (86%) and who earn up to two minimum wages (85%).

The groups with the greatest rejection of the mandatory vaccination to enter closed places are men (24%), people between 25 and 34 years old (22%) and who earn more than ten minimum wages (28%).

Support for the vaccination requirement is higher in the Southeast (84%) and lower in the South (75%). There is also greater support among Spiritualists (87%) and Catholics (85%) than among Evangelicals (76%).

Among occupations, housewives are the most favorable (90%), and entrepreneurs (60%) are the category in which support is the least.

The research also addressed the fear of catching Covid, at a time of explosion of cases of the disease in Brazil, with the advancement of the ômicron – the variant already corresponds to almost all positive tests for the detection of Covid in the country, according to a survey carried out by laboratories.

A portion of 39% say they are very afraid of being infected – a percentage that was already 55% in March 2021.

Another 37% are a little afraid of being infected and 18% are not afraid at all —6% gave other responses.

Housewives (50%) and retirees (47%) are the groups with the most people saying they are very afraid, while businesspeople are the ones with the highest percentage of professionals who say they are not afraid of getting infected (28%). .

As for habits for protection, 60% claim to be taking care, but leaving home to work and do other activities; 24% are leaving home only when it is unavoidable; 12% are living normally without changing anything in their routine; and 4% remain totally isolated, without leaving home.

Only 4% of people say they believe the pandemic is fully under control.

According to the research, the perception has grown that the disease is out of control. For 48%, it is partially controlled – but that percentage was 68% a month ago.

On the rise, the percentage of people who think the pandemic is not under control rose from 20% in December to 45% in the new survey.

A Datafolha survey published this Saturday (15) showed that one in four Brazilians aged 16 or over says they have been diagnosed with Covid since the beginning of the pandemic. There are 42 million people infected, almost double the total number of cases officially registered in the country.

In this scenario, 81% of Brazilians always wear a mask outside the home; 13% occasionally; 3% rarely; and 2% do not use it.

Despite the high adherence to the use of mask, it is in decline. In March 2021, 92% always used the protective accessory.

In the Southeast, the public that always wears a mask is larger (85%). In the Midwest and North (the survey grouped these two regions of Brazil), the percentage is lower, 75%.