Understanding structural inequities in Covid-19 vaccine access and uptake among disability, transgender and gender-diverse communities in India

Introduction

Undervaccination and vaccination-related anxieties among marginalised communities like the transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) and disability communities are underexplored in the Indian context. Our study seeks to understand the role of structural and historical inequities in shaping COVID-19 vaccine access for the two communities in India.

Methods

Using a participatory qualitative research approach, TGD and disabled individuals were involved in and consulted throughout the research process. We interviewed 45 individuals for our study, hailing from the two communities and other key stakeholders and health system representatives involved in vaccination roll-out in India. We conducted an inductive thematic analysis guided by the socio-ecological model and intersectionality approach.

Results

Despite intent to get vaccinated among most participants, several structural barriers shaped COVID-19 vaccine access for people from the TGD and disability community. This included information and communication gaps with respect to the specific health needs of the two communities, barriers related to vaccine registration, data collection, transport, infrastructure and actual or anticipated mistreatment at vaccine centres. Each emergent structural gap in vaccination had parallels in past health systems experiences, pointing to the longstanding and pervasive inequities within health and allied systems which impact how communities perceive and respond to new health system interventions.

Conclusion

This study uncovers the structural inequities within health systems that have permeated the planning, design and outreach of COVID-19 vaccination programs in India. Moving beyond notions of vaccine hesitancy among the TGD and disability community, we underscore the importance of socio-historical contexts of marginalisation and advocate for systems to recognise these contexts and respond equitably to the vaccination and health needs of the two communities. While some challenges among the two communities were distinct, the study explores how a shared experience of exclusion from public systems can provide avenues for cross-movement advocacy and solidarity, and help inform health system reforms.