COVID-19 Vaccination Gender Gap in India. Can Trade Agreements Help?, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Mexico - 30 January 2024

Trade topics: Trade Policy, COVID 19, Development

Health pandemics affect women and men differently, and they can make the existing gender inequalities much worse. COVID-19 is one such pandemic, which can have substantial gender implications both during and in the post-pandemic world. Its economic and social consequences could deepen the existing gender inequalities and roll back the limited gains made in respect of women empowerment in the past few decades. The chapter in particular outlines five main reasons that explain why this health pandemic has led to a vaccination gender gap in India. It then explores how trade agreements can contribute in repairing this gender gap. In doing so, the author sheds light on various ways in which the existing trade agreements embrace gender equality considerations and how they can be better prepared to help minimize the vaccination gender gap by catering to the health interests of women.

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