March is Women’s History Month; a time to celebrate the countless ways women have shaped our communities, institutions, and futures. In the world of adolescent health and immunization, women aren’t just part of the story; they are leading it. From caregivers making day-to-day healthcare decisions to clinicians, researchers, and advocates, women play a vital role in protecting adolescent health and advancing vaccine confidence.
This month, we celebrate the women whose leadership, advocacy, and care help ensure adolescents have access to lifesaving preventive health measures, including immunizations. Their daily work continues to strengthen families, communities, and public health outcomes nationwide.
Women as the Primary Healthcare Decision-Makers
In many households, women are the primary healthcare decision-makers. They are often the ones scheduling doctor’s appointments, maintaining health records, navigating insurance requirements, and making sure adolescents meet school immunization guidelines. These responsibilities place women at the center of adolescent preventive care and vaccine decision-making.
Women also build the foundation of trust that makes immunization possible. They help adolescents feel comfortable asking questions, voicing concerns, and engaging with healthcare providers. By fostering open communication and informed decision-making, women play an essential to adolescent vaccine confidence and uptake.
Women Leading Healthcare Delivery
Women’s impact on adolescent immunization extends far beyond the household. Across the healthcare system, women are the backbone of care delivery, research, and advocacy. In the U.S., approximately 64% of pediatricians identify as female (Fuentes-Afflick et al., 2023), reflecting women’s central role in providing primary and preventive care for children and teens. Nearly 89% of nurses identify as female (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2024), underscoring women’s leadership on the front lines of patient care and vaccination.
Women have also reshaped the medical education pipeline. In 1990–1991, women comprised 38.5% of medical students, and this percentage has risen up to 50% by 2019 (Pérez-Sánchez, 2021), meaning women now represent half of future physicians. As adolescent health physicians, providers, and educators women drive innovation, expand access and help ensure that adolescent immunization remains a national priority.
Highlighting Women Leadership at Unity Consortium and in AIAW
At Unity Consortium, we are proud to work alongside and be guided by women leaders who are committed to advancing adolescent immunization. Their vision and expertise mirror the broader impact women have across healthcare and public health systems nationwide.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we also look ahead to Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW), taking place from April 6th to 10th, 2026. AIAW elevates the importance of adolescent vaccines and mobilizes collective action across communities. Women leaders will be central to these efforts, including during Unity’s upcoming panel discussion with Dr. Chelsea Clinton. In our next blog post, we will focus more deeply on AIAW and the collaborative leadership required to improve adolescent immunization coverage across the country.
References:
Fuentes-Afflick E, Daniels S, Spector ND, Davis SD, Simon TD. Gender equity in the scientific workforce: what is the current state of pediatrics? Pediatric Research. 2023;93(1):17–18.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2024). Nursing Workforce Fact Sheet.
Pérez-Sánchez S, Madueño SE, Montaner J. Gender Gap in the Leadership of Health Institutions: The Influence of Hospital-Level Factors. Health Equity. 2021 Aug 13;5(1):521-525. doi: 10.1089/heq.2021.0013. PMID: 34476325; PMCID: PMC8409238.
