Why Gender Matters: Immunization Agenda 2030

"Immunization interventions will only succeed in expanding coverage and widening reach when gender roles, norms and relations are understood, analysed and systematically accounted for as part of immunization service planning and delivery."

Gender-related barriers and gender inequality can prevent people, both male and female, from getting vaccinated. This document explains the need for mainstreaming of gender across the core principles and strategic priorities of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), which envisions a world where everyone fully benefits from vaccines for good health and well-being.

The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (‎UNICEF), and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance developed this resource to improve awareness and understanding of how gender-related barriers can affect immunisation programme performance. It is intended for those engaged in supporting, managing, or implementing immunisation programmes, as well as the staff of ministries of health and other sectors (e.g., ministries of education, ministries of gender, ministries of finance), civil society, international organisations, and donor partners involved in realising the IA2030 vision.

The resource provides practical "how to" concepts, tools and methods, and actions that can be used to integrate a gender perspective into immunisation programmes. Specifically:

• Chapter 1 asks, "Why does gender matter for immunisation?" Its sections explore the questions: What is gender mainstreaming in immunisation programmes? What is gender analysis? Why conduct a gender analysis?
• Chapter 2 looks at IA2030 and gender, with a focus on IA2030 core principles.
• Chapter 3 describes gender-related barriers to immunisation:
  • Poor-quality services and negative health provider attitudes;
  • Low education level and health literacy;
  • Limited autonomy in decision-making and household dynamics;
  • Lack of access and control over resources and mobility; and
  • High prevalance of gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices.
• Chapter 4 outlines 9 gender-responsive approaches to increasing immunisation coverage along a continuum of gender-responsiveness:
  1. Invest in gender data and analysis
  2. Make community engagement and social mobilisation gender-responsive and transformative.
  3. Engage with men to transform gender norms.
  4. Empower and collaborate with civil society and change agents.
  5. Implement gender-responsive actions for the health workforce.
  6. Improve the quality, accessibility, and availability of services.
  7. Integrate services and collaborate across sectors.
  8. Implement gender-responsive immunisation services in emergency settings.
  9. Apply a gender lens to research and innovation.
• Chapter 5 and the Conclusion present a way forward: commitment and accountability to accelerate progress toward 2030.
• The 3 annexes include a gender analysis matrix, links to other available resources and tools for gender-responsive programming, and metrics to identify gender-related barriers to immunisation.

"This document is primarily about the gender inequalities that exist between men and women. Addressing the barriers to immunization faced by others who are gender diverse/non-conforming is also important. While not specifically addressed in this document, many of the principles and tools can also be adapted for these groups."