An open letter to the WHO Director-General by Global Action on Men’s Health, jointly signed by a range of men’s health organizations around the world.

Tragically, at least two million men around the world have so far died as a direct result of COVID-19. Men have borne an excess burden of serious disease and mortality caused by COVID-19. The WHO has estimated that around 58% of all deaths are male and in some countries the proportion has been far higher.

The evidence points to a range of causes.Of particular significance is that men are more likely to have one of the underlying conditions that make serious illness and death more likely, such as hypertension and diabetes. Prevention guidelines on handwashing, mask-wearing and social distancinghave not been effective at reaching men. There is, moreover, emerging evidence of lower vaccination rates in men…

Global Action on Men’s Health. (2021). COVID-19 and Men’s Health.