lmost two and a half years have passed since COVID-19 became an illness that stopped the world’s economy, plummeting millions into poverty and hunger and killing nearly 15 million people worldwide. For most, the worst days of COVID-19 are behind us. We have access to several safe and effective vaccines and live in countries where vaccination rates are high enough to stem community spread. However, this is not true for all countries. According to the New York Times vaccination tracker there are many low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) that have extremely low vaccination rates despite the reported hordes of vaccinations doses being held by higher income countries. Of all of these, Burundi has the lowest vaccination rate in the world. Communicable diseases like COVID-19 do not stop at a country’s border, so when one country lacks the resources to vaccinate its citizens, we all face the consequences—especially women who are less likely to be vaccinated in LMICs.
Burundi’s vaccination rate is reported to be less than 1% of its population, and there are at least 102 other countries with vaccination rates under 70%, the threshold needed to reach herd immunity and prevent major outbreaks of the disease. Without significant investment in improving vaccination in LMICs globally, women will bear the brunt of the health consequences. In more developed countries, women are more likely to be vaccinated than men, however, in LMICs, women are less likely to be vaccinated, often making up less than half of the vaccinated population. In Burundi, only 30% of those with at least one dose are women, an infinitesimal amount considering less than 1% of the population is vaccinated.
Women already face a greater uphill battle when it comes to safeguarding their health both mentally and physically. Maternal mortality rates are higher in LMICs with Burundi’s maternal mortality being very high with 548 deaths per 100,000 live births. Non-communicable diseases such as heart disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide but impacts women in low income countries most where they do not have access to preventative health care. Intimate partner violence is a global public health crisis impacting women and non-binary individuals more than cis-men. COVID-19 was more likely to impact the mental health of women than of men. Women’s health is at stake and with a future more likely to be impacted by infectious disease, women must get access to lifesaving vaccinations when they are available.
As one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, Burundi’s vaccination rate is concerning not only for preventing the spread of COVID-19, but for further safeguarding women’s health in the country. However, the tide is starting to turn and there is hope. Burundi was not hit with a major COVID-19 outbreak until late 2021 which could have been a major cause of vaccine hesitancy in the country up until that point. After the first wave of COVID-19, the Burundi Government was able to use World Bank funds to finally join COVAX and plan its first mass vaccination campaign. In October of 2021, the Chinese government donated 500,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of today, according to the New York Times vaccine tracker, only a little over 17,000 Burundi citizens have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. There is still much work to be done in the country, especially for women who have not been receiving the vaccine at the same rate as men.
COVID-19 is not over. Globally, many people are still infected and die on a daily basis from this highly communicable disease. It may never be behind us but as the world rallies to fight the spread of infection, resources must be made to address low vaccination rates in LMICs—particularly for women in LMICs who are less likely to be vaccinated and who suffer from greater health risks than men.
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Burundi Needs COVID-19 Vaccinations
Photo via Adobe Stock.
July 15, 2022
Burundi’s vaccination rate is reported to be less than 1%. As one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, this is concerning not only for preventing the spread of COVID-19, but for further safeguarding women’s health in the country, writes Coby Jones.
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lmost two and a half years have passed since COVID-19 became an illness that stopped the world’s economy, plummeting millions into poverty and hunger and killing nearly 15 million people worldwide. For most, the worst days of COVID-19 are behind us. We have access to several safe and effective vaccines and live in countries where vaccination rates are high enough to stem community spread. However, this is not true for all countries. According to the New York Times vaccination tracker there are many low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) that have extremely low vaccination rates despite the reported hordes of vaccinations doses being held by higher income countries. Of all of these, Burundi has the lowest vaccination rate in the world. Communicable diseases like COVID-19 do not stop at a country’s border, so when one country lacks the resources to vaccinate its citizens, we all face the consequences—especially women who are less likely to be vaccinated in LMICs.
Burundi’s vaccination rate is reported to be less than 1% of its population, and there are at least 102 other countries with vaccination rates under 70%, the threshold needed to reach herd immunity and prevent major outbreaks of the disease. Without significant investment in improving vaccination in LMICs globally, women will bear the brunt of the health consequences. In more developed countries, women are more likely to be vaccinated than men, however, in LMICs, women are less likely to be vaccinated, often making up less than half of the vaccinated population. In Burundi, only 30% of those with at least one dose are women, an infinitesimal amount considering less than 1% of the population is vaccinated.
Women already face a greater uphill battle when it comes to safeguarding their health both mentally and physically. Maternal mortality rates are higher in LMICs with Burundi’s maternal mortality being very high with 548 deaths per 100,000 live births. Non-communicable diseases such as heart disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide but impacts women in low income countries most where they do not have access to preventative health care. Intimate partner violence is a global public health crisis impacting women and non-binary individuals more than cis-men. COVID-19 was more likely to impact the mental health of women than of men. Women’s health is at stake and with a future more likely to be impacted by infectious disease, women must get access to lifesaving vaccinations when they are available.
As one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, Burundi’s vaccination rate is concerning not only for preventing the spread of COVID-19, but for further safeguarding women’s health in the country. However, the tide is starting to turn and there is hope. Burundi was not hit with a major COVID-19 outbreak until late 2021 which could have been a major cause of vaccine hesitancy in the country up until that point. After the first wave of COVID-19, the Burundi Government was able to use World Bank funds to finally join COVAX and plan its first mass vaccination campaign. In October of 2021, the Chinese government donated 500,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of today, according to the New York Times vaccine tracker, only a little over 17,000 Burundi citizens have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. There is still much work to be done in the country, especially for women who have not been receiving the vaccine at the same rate as men.
COVID-19 is not over. Globally, many people are still infected and die on a daily basis from this highly communicable disease. It may never be behind us but as the world rallies to fight the spread of infection, resources must be made to address low vaccination rates in LMICs—particularly for women in LMICs who are less likely to be vaccinated and who suffer from greater health risks than men.
