COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE SURVEY Data from the 5th Wave of the Rapid Response Survey fielded by the World Bank and UNICEF DATE COVID 19-Rapid Response Survey Bulgaria Survey representing Bulgarian households Timing • Round 1: June 2020 (completed) • Round 2: October 2020 (completed) • Round 3: December 2020/January 2021 (completed) • Round 4: February/March 2021 (completed) • Round 5: June 2021 (this round) Sample size • ~1500 households-1000 households + 500 children booster sample • containing 3,443 individuals (2,948 adults and 495 children) Geographic coverage • Representative of rural and urban areas Survey content • Demographic indicators • Pre- and during- COVID-19 (employment, income, savings, opinions, children’s education and health) • Attitudes to vaccination Similar surveys in other countries • Croatia, Romania, Poland • The survey design is also linked to the World Bank global rapid assessment monitoring framework The labor market has continued to show signs of recovery though an eighth of workers reported reduced income compared with pre-crisis levels Figure 1: Proportion of workers who were working in February that were able to Figure 2: Proportion of workers who experienced changes in income and hours continue working by month worked, June 2021 100% 100% 90% 95% 95% 80% 70% 90% 60% 50% 85% 40% 80% 30% 20% 75% 10% 0% Reduce Increase Same Reduce Not Reduced Income Hours Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Bulgarians continue to report heightened financial hardship compared to pre-crisis levels, with higher reports among some groups Figure 3: Proportion of households reporting it harder to make ends meet compared with pre-crisis levels, June 2021 100% 90% 80% 70% • Reports of heightened financial hardship 60% are higher among 50% • Poor 40% • Rural 30% 20% 42% • Older household heads 32% 10% 22% 0% Bottom 40 Middle 40 Top 20 Harder Same Easier Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey This is reflected in higher reports of arrears, particularly among less well-off households, with all income groups continuing to report income declines Figure 4: Proportion of households reporting arrears by arrears type, June 2021 Figure 5: Household income changes by income group, June 2021 100% 90% Top 20 80% 70% Middle 40 60% 50% Bottom 40 40% 30% National 20% 10% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 12% 7% 5% 0% 2% Increase No Change Decrease 1-20% All Bottom 40 Middle 40 Top 20 Decrease 21-40% Decrease 41-60% Decrease 61-80% Mortgage Utilities Heating Credit Telephone None Decrease 81-100% Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Over a fifth of households expect a worsening financial situation and households generally anticipate spending less, which may prolong the recovery process Figure 6: Household expectation of future financial situation, June 2021 Figure 7: Household expectation of future expenditure on durables and restaurants, June 2021 100% 50% 90% 5% 45% 7% 10% 3% 80% 40% 18% 12% 70% 20% 35% 26% 60% 30% 50% 25% 40% 20% 30% 15% 20% 10% 10% 5% 0% 0% All Bottom 40 Middle 40 Top 20 Much more More Same Less Much less Don't know Much better Better Same Worse Much worse Don't know Durables Restaurants Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Bulgaria continues to report high levels of vaccine hesitancy –less than a fifth reported having at least one dose and only 14 percent of the unvaccinated plan to take the vaccine Figure 8: Proportion of Bulgarians (18+) reporting having had at lease one dose, October 2021 Don't plan to take/Don't know 86% • Uptake highest among 65+ None (31%) 77% • Uptake among those 65+ almost twice as high as those 18-29 Plan to take vaccine At least one dose 23% 14% • Uptake evenly distributed among wealth, education status, At least one dose None Plan to take vaccine Don't plan to take/Don't know urban/rural, sex Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Health risks tend to be the most frequently reported concern among unvaccinated Bulgarians with concerns, and Bulgarians remain unconvinced on the importance of vaccines Figure 9: Concerns about the vaccines among those who had not been vaccinated, June 2021 Figure 10: Perception of the importance of vaccines, June 2021 No concern Health risks Don't know 27% May not work Agree 40% Not worried about COVID-19 Don't know Don't trust the pharmaceutical industry Other Don't trust the government Against vaccines in general 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Disagree 33% Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Vaccine passports may have limits to their efficacy – 40% of unvaccinated Bulgarians reported not willing to get vaccinated under any circumstances Figure 11: Situation under which you would take the vaccine if required, June 2021 • Reports of “No circumstances� highest among No circumstances 38% • Poorer Travel abroad • Men Go to events Go to restaurants Restart business 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey More than two-thirds of unvaccinated Bulgarians reported wanting no vaccine, however those that reported a brand preference reported Pfizer as the preferred brand. Figure 12: Preferred brand of COVID-19 vaccine, June 2021 None 68% Pfizer 16% Sputnik V Moderna Other Sinovac AstraZeneca 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Parents reported schools undertaking several measures to reduced the spread of COVID-19 and seemed largely satisfied with the measures Figure 13: Parents’ reports of school measures to reduced COVID-19, June 2021 Figure 14: Parents’ satisfaction with school measures to reduced COVID-19, June 2021 Disinfecting surfaces No Don't know Mask-wearing 3% 4% Restricting visitors Handwashing Spacing classes Reduced hours Temperature check Social distancing 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Yes 93% Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Reports of negative health impacts of distance learning were most prominent among lower secondary students, however, parents of elementary students reported the most difficulty coping Figure 15: Parents’ report of impact of distance learning on child’s health, June 2021 Figure 16: Parents’ report of child’s ability to cope with online learning compared with prior school year by grade level, June 2021 100% 100% 90% 90% 80% 80% 70% 70% 60% 60% 50% 50% 30% 33% 40% 40% 40% 29% 7% 30% 7% 30% 7% 11% 20% 8% 6% 9% 20% 5% 10% 18% 17% 21% 10% 12% 0% 0% National Elementary Lower Secondary Upper Secondary National Elementary Lower Secondary Upper Secondary Both Physical Mental Neither Don't know Easier More difficult Same Don't know Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Parents continued to overwhelming prefer in-person teaching with some concerns about the quality of instruction compared with before the pandemic Figure 17: Parents’ perception of online vs in-person teaching, June 2021 Figure 18: Parents’ perception of quality of teaching last school year vs pre-pandemic, June 2021 11% 27% 90% In-person better Online better Both are equal Don't know Much better Better Same Worse Much worse Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Parents overwhelmingly reported needing cash assistance should distance learning be reintroduced Figure 19: Parents’ report of type of support needed if distance learning was re-introduced, June 2021 • Reports of needing cash assistance higher among None • Poorer households Cash assistance • Rural households Devices • Less-educated household heads Food vouchers • Younger household heads (18-29) Internet • Close to a fifth of parents reported Paid leave needing assistance with food vouchers Individualized teaching and devices Child Care • Poorer households Psychological help • Less-educated household heads 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% • (Cash) Younger household heads (18-29) • (Cash) Elementary school parents Source: World Bank Rapid Response Survey Summary of findings Clear signs of recovery in the labor market However, households still feeling impacts of the crisis, especially poorer, rural and older households High levels of vaccine hesitancy are prevalent with health concerns the chief concern among unvaccinated Bulgarians Vaccine passports may be limited in their efficacy Vaccine skepticism remains high due to health concerns and Bulgarians seem unconvinced about the importance of vaccines Vaccine skepticism remains high due to health concerns and Bulgarians seem unconvinced about the importance of vaccines Parents report adverse impacts of distance learning on the physical and mental health of their children Policy recommendations More support to lower income parents-cash grants, child coefficient GMI More targeted support to those who have been disproportionately impacted by the crisis and slower to recover Remediation for children whose academic achievement and health has been adversely impacted by COVID-19 Greater information campaigns surrounding the safety of vaccines Bulgarians expressed a desire to have more information on how safe COVID-19 vaccines are and how they are developed, tested, and authorized Also expressed a willingness to listen to health professionals, doctors, nurses , pharmacists Contact: Kristina Vaughan kvaughan@worldbank.org