Women Falling Behind in Vaccine Efforts
2021-10-18
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1People from the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East are starting to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
2But the latest information shows that women are vaccinated at lower rates than men.
3Experts say women in Africa may be the least vaccinated population around the world, in large part because of misinformation and distrust.
4But problems getting the vaccine and inequality exist far beyond Africa.
5Barriers to receiving the vaccine include cultural opinions, and a lack of technology.
6Women, sometimes, are not prioritized.
7Information about the rate of vaccine distribution to women is lacking in many countries.
8Officials agree, however, that women are clearly behind men in some places.
9Experts say the issue must be addressed for the world to defeat the pandemic.
10Clare Wenham is a professor of worldwide health at the London School of Economics.
11"If women do not get vaccinated at the same rates as men, they will become even more marginalized," she said.
12"This will just be one more instance where they are excluded from society."
13Sarah Hawkes tracks worldwide coronavirus information by sex at University College London.
14She said whether women were able to get the vaccine earlier in the pandemic was often decided by how countries gave out their first shots.
15She said Pakistan and other countries gave their first vaccines to groups like the military and immigrant workers, who are more likely to be men.
16Sasha Fahme is a women's health researcher at the American University in Beirut.
17She said that in Lebanon, like much of the Middle East, women were protected from COVID-19 at first because they were more likely to follow social distancing guidelines.
18Over time, she explained, women faced higher exposure to the virus.
19Women are more likely to do household work and take care of sick relatives.
20Fahme also said women were less likely to have information about the virus because they have lower reading rates.
21Naima Sadaka is a 36-year-old mother of three from southern Lebanon.
22She did not consider getting the vaccine because she believed there were scientific disputes about it, which is untrue.
23"Since there are disagreements among the people of science over it, so, better without it," Sadaka said.
24Many studies have proved all COVID-19 shots approved by the U.S. and Europe greatly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
25In Bangladesh, the use of technology to increase vaccination rates may have hurt women.
26Government information from September showed that 8 million men, but just 6 million women, had received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
27Ramesh Singh is the Bangladesh director for the organization CARE.
28After working on COVID-19 measures in some of the country's clothing factories, Singh noted that most of the workers were women.
29He said the factories have been open throughout the entire pandemic.
30"That would seem to put women at higher risk because they're exposed, but they were not getting enough protection," Singh said.
31Singh explained that Bangladesh began vaccination efforts by asking people to register on a mobile app.
32Women who did not have mobile phones could not sign up.
33And while registration has now grown beyond the app, some women from rural areas still face barriers.
34Officials say that vaccinating more women in poor countries may depend on an important group: female healthcare workers.
35Women make up 70 percent of the world healthcare workforce.
36Research, however, has found women to be more distrustful of vaccines than men.
37Some female healthcare workers are also distrustful.
38Chioma Nwakanma is a doctor who works in Lagos, Nigeria.
39She is saddened that some nurses do not think the vaccine is important.
40"And if female health workers are not confident in the vaccine, then why would the women take it?"
41I'm Dan Novak.
1People 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. 2Experts 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. 3Information 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. 4Clare Wenham is a professor of worldwide health at the London School of Economics. 5"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." 6Sarah 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. 7Sasha Fahme is a women's health researcher at the American University in Beirut. She said that in Lebanon, like much of the Middle East, women were protected from COVID-19 at first because they were more likely to follow social distancing guidelines. 8Over time, she explained, women faced higher exposure to the virus. Women are more likely to do household work and take care of sick relatives. Fahme also said women were less likely to have information about the virus because they have lower reading rates. 9Naima Sadaka is a 36-year-old mother of three from southern Lebanon. She did not consider getting the vaccine because she believed there were scientific disputes about it, which is untrue. 10"Since there are disagreements among the people of science over it, so, better without it," Sadaka said. 11Many studies have proved all COVID-19 shots approved by the U.S. and Europe greatly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. 12In Bangladesh, the use of technology to increase vaccination rates may have hurt women. 13Government information from September showed that 8 million men, but just 6 million women, had received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 14Ramesh Singh is the Bangladesh director for the organization CARE. After working on COVID-19 measures in some of the country's clothing factories, Singh noted that most of the workers were women. He said the factories have been open throughout the entire pandemic. 15"That would seem to put women at higher risk because they're exposed, but they were not getting enough protection," Singh said. 16Singh explained that Bangladesh began vaccination efforts by asking people to register on a mobile app. Women who did not have mobile phones could not sign up. And while registration has now grown beyond the app, some women from rural areas still face barriers. 17Officials say that vaccinating more women in poor countries may depend on an important group: female healthcare workers. Women make up 70 percent of the world healthcare workforce. Research, however, has found women to be more distrustful of vaccines than men. Some female healthcare workers are also distrustful. 18Chioma Nwakanma is a doctor who works in Lagos, Nigeria. She is saddened that some nurses do not think the vaccine is important. 19"And if female health workers are not confident in the vaccine, then why would the women take it?" 20I'm Dan Novak. 21Maria Cheng reported this story for The Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 22_______________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24prioritize - v. to organize (things) so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first 25pandemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world 26marginalize - v. to put or keep (someone) in a powerless or unimportant position within a society or group 27exclude - v. to prevent (someone) from doing something or being a part of a group 28exposure - n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something : the condition of being exposed to something 29dose - n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time 30confident - adj. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something : having confidence