whether it is a fact that as on June 22, 2021, only 46 percent of those vaccinated were women and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to address the gender gap in administration of vaccines;
(c) whether factors such as access to technology, information, smartphones, socially entrenched patriarchal forces and so on have been identified by the Government for contributing to the gap; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) to (d): As per census 2011 data, the sex ratio for India is 943 females to 1000 males which translate to 48.5% females in the country. Further, as per the vaccination coverage reported on Co-WIN as on 07.07.2021, out of 35.89 crore vaccinations done across the country, a total of 16.63 crore vaccinations were of women i.e.46.32% of the total vaccinations.
The difference of approximately 2% between estimated proportion of females and proportion of vaccinations of females could be due to earlier guidelines which had mentioned pregnancy and lactation as contra-indications for COVID-19 vaccination. However, subsequent to review of evolving scientific evidence, COVID-19 vaccination has been allowed for lactating women from 19.05.2021 and for pregnant women from 02.07.2021. The COVID-19 vaccination drive does not make any discrimination on the basis of gender, socio-economic conditions or residence etc of citizens.
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