vaccination: a tool for gender equality

By: Results Canada Published: 23/10/2024

Vaccines are one of the most effective public health interventions of our time. Diseases like measles, polio, and pneumonia, which were once widespread and often deadly, are now preventable with vaccines.

But vaccination is also key to gender equality. And Canada needs to step up to ensure women and girls around the world have equitable access to vaccines.

Damilola’s plea 

When 14-year-old Damilola John from Lagos, Nigeria, received her human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, she knew she was protecting her future—a future free from cervical cancer. Her call to action resonates across borders: “Let your daughters get the vaccine, so we can have a future free of disease.” 

For girls like Damilola, staying healthy means staying in school, avoiding early marriage, and having the chance to pursue their dreams. Vaccines empower girls by removing health-related barriers that limit their future opportunities.

Damilola John getting the HPV vaccine at the Eti-Osa Local Government Primary Healthcare Centre. Credit: Royal Ibeh

obstacles and solutions

The obstacles girls and women around the world still face in accessing vaccines include:

  • Lack of information: Many caregivers, particularly women, may not be aware of the importance of vaccines.
  • Household responsibilities: Traditional gender roles often place the burden of childcare on women, limiting their time and ability to access healthcare services.
  • Financial barriers: In low-income households, caregivers may struggle to afford indirect costs of vaccination, such as transportation.
  • Cultural and religious norms: In some communities, cultural practices may discourage women from seeking immunization services, especially from male healthcare workers.
  • Healthcare accessibility: Long wait times or limited clinic hours may conflict with caregivers' responsibilities or income-generating activities.

Initiatives like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are working to break down these barriers. Gavi’s programs not only provide affordable vaccines but also address the gender-specific challenges that prevent girls from receiving them. By supporting national immunization programs, Gavi helps millions of children, especially girls, access life-saving vaccines and a brighter future.

Since the launch of Gavi in 2000, vaccination programs have led to a 51% drop in the global under-five mortality rate and a dramatic reduction in extreme poverty. Starting in 2026, Gavi aims to accelerate its efforts to vaccinate more children, faster than ever before, protecting at least 500 million children and saving over 8 million lives. This means more girls can attend school, grow into healthy adults, and contribute to their communities. The ripple effect of immunization is profound.

Canada's role in ensuring vaccines #ReachEveryChild

Canada has been a longstanding advocate for global health and gender equality has helped make vaccines accessible to girls in some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities. Our legacy includes:

  • The development and implementation of the Feminist International Assistance Policy
  • increasing our investment in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in 2022 by 30%, from $930.4 million to $1.21 billion – the single largest investment Canada has made towards any international financing institution for health.
  • Being among the first donors to support Gavi, helping it immunize over 1 billion children since 2000 and bring child deaths down by 70% in Gavi-supported lower-income countries.
  • Being the first country to contribute to the global effort to eradicate polio in 1986, recently announcing $151 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and pledging to support its mission until polio is finally eradicated.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian government have been leaders in global health. Now, we call on them to do so again. By pledging at least $720 million to Gavi’s 2026-2030 Strategy, Canada can help build a world where every girl has the chance to grow up healthy, safe, and free from poverty.

the time to act is now

This is a pivotal moment for Canada to strengthen its commitment to global health. 1.5 million children still die every year from preventable diseases, and the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed much of the progress made in recent years. We have a unique opportunity to make a bold impact by investing in vaccines that will not only save lives but also advance gender equity and economic stability.

Together, we can secure a shot at life for girls like Damilola around the world. Let’s make this vision a reality #ForOurFuture.

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