AUTHOR=Kunyenje Chifundo Annessia , Chirwa Gowokani Chijere , Mboma Sebastian M. , Ng'ambi Wingston , Mnjowe Emmanuel , Nkhoma Dominic , Ngwira Lucky Gift , Chawani Marlen Stacey , Chilima Ben , Mitambo Collins , Crampin Amelia , Mfutso-Bengo Joseph TITLE=COVID-19 vaccine inequity in African low-income countries JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1087662 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1087662 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=

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.