Frontiers in Public Health (Mar 2023)

COVID-19 vaccine inequity in African low-income countries

  • Chifundo Annessia Kunyenje,
  • Gowokani Chijere Chirwa,
  • Sebastian M. Mboma,
  • Wingston Ng'ambi,
  • Emmanuel Mnjowe,
  • Dominic Nkhoma,
  • Lucky Gift Ngwira,
  • Marlen Stacey Chawani,
  • Marlen Stacey Chawani,
  • Ben Chilima,
  • Collins Mitambo,
  • Amelia Crampin,
  • Joseph Mfutso-Bengo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1087662
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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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.

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