Unpacking gendered dynamics in livestock vaccination: Toward more inclusive health strategies

Livestock are vital to the health and economic stability of communities worldwide. However, infectious diseases threaten both animal and human health due to losses in livestock, decreased production, and transmission of zoonotic diseases. To manage and mitigate these risks, access to livestock vaccines is critical. This is often gendered, with societal and cultural norms influencing barriers to access. Through a scoping review of 49 publications, we describe the gendered dynamics of livestock vaccination in relation to farmers’ perceptions and knowledge about vaccines, access to vaccines and vaccination programs, and the ways in which roles and responsibilities in relation to cultural norms shape and limit women’s decision making power and empowerment to participate in such initiatives. We find that across communities, women face similar barriers to engaging in livestock vaccination programs, but that local context is critical to understanding and addressing these barriers. Within a broader context of the gendered dynamics of vaccination for both human and animal health, we highlight the need for vaccination programs that identify and address inequitable access to vaccines to support community and animal wellbeing as well as resilience to emerging health threats.

Byers, K.A. (2025) Unpacking gendered dynamics in livestock vaccination: Toward more inclusive health strategies. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabionehealth.2025.0002