People from the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East are starting to receive COVID-19 vaccines. But the latest information shows that women are vaccinated at lower rates than men. Experts say women in Africa may be the least vaccinated population around the world, in large part because of misinformation and distrust. But problems getting the vaccine and inequality exist far beyond Africa. Barriers to receiving the vaccine include cultural opinions, and a lack of technology. Women, sometimes, are not prioritized. Information about the rate of vaccine distribution to women is lacking in many countries. Officials agree, however, that women are clearly behind men in some places. Experts say the issue must be addressed for the world to defeat the pandemic. Clare Wenham is a professor of worldwide health at the London School of Economics. “If women do not get vaccinated at the same rates as men, they will become even more marginalized,” she said. “This will just be one more instance where they are excluded from society.” Sarah Hawkes tracks worldwide coronavirus information by sex at University College London. She said whether women were able to get the vaccine earlier in the pandemic was often decided by how countries gave out their first shots. She said Pakistan and other countries gave their first vaccines to groups like the military and immigrant workers, who are more likely to be men.
