GENDER GAP EMERGES IN AFRICA'S VACCINES

Experts see a growing number of women in Africa's poorest countries consistently missing out on vaccines. “We do see, unfortunately, that even as COVID vaccines arrive in Africa after a long delay, women are being left behind,” said Dr. Abdahalah Ziraba, an epidemiologist at the African Population and Health Research Center. “This could mean they will suffer a heavier toll during the pandemic.” The spread of vaccine misinformation is in large part to blame for the gender gap, officials say. With female literacy a challenge across Africa, women have long relied on word of mouth for information.