COVID-19 vaccine inequity in African low-income countries

• Main Authors: Chifundo Annessia Kunyenje (Author), Gowokani Chijere Chirwa (Author), Sebastian M. Mboma (Author), Wingston Ng'ambi (Author), Emmanuel Mnjowe (Author), Dominic Nkhoma (Author), Lucky Gift Ngwira (Author), Marlen Stacey Chawani (Author), Ben Chilima (Author), Collins Mitambo (Author), Amelia Crampin (Author), Joseph Mfutso-Bengo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Equitable access and utilization of the COVID-19 vaccine is the main exit strategy from the pandemic. This paper used proceedings from the Second Extraordinary Think-Tank conference, which was held by the Health Economics and Policy Unit at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in collaboration with the Malawi Ministry of Health, complemented by a review of literature. We found disparities in COVID-19 vaccine coverage among low-income countries. This is also the case among high income countries. The disparities are driven mainly by insufficient supply, inequitable distribution, limited production of the vaccine in low-income countries, weak health systems, high vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine misconceptions. COVID-19 vaccine inequity continues to affect the entire world with the ongoing risks of emergence of new COVID-19 variants, increased morbidity and mortality and social and economic disruptions. In order to reduce the COVID-19 vaccination inequality in low-income countries, there is need to expand COVAX facility, waive intellectual property rights, transform knowledge and technology acquired into vaccines, and conduct mass COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.

Item Description

2296-2565
10.3389/fpubh.2023.1087662