Cholera vaccine stocks 'empty' as cases surge

EuBiologics

14/02/2024 15:08

By Jennifer Rigby and Gloria Dickie
       LONDON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The emergency global
stockpile of cholera vaccines is empty with all available doses
for this month already allocated to countries battling major
outbreaks, two United Nations agencies told Reuters.
    The rest of this year will see a predicted shortfall of at
least 50 million doses between demand and supply, a UNICEF
official added, as cases continue to surge worldwide.
    “The stockpile is empty,” said Philippe Barboza, cholera
lead at the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.N.’s health
agency.
    The acute shortage of cholera vaccines has been an issue
since at least October 2022, when the WHO recommended using only
one dose, rather than two, to stretch out the stockpile it
jointly manages with other health agencies. 
    But the recent surge in cases, particularly in countries
including Zambia and Zimbabwe, has put even more pressure on the
scarce supply.
    In January alone, 40,900 cases and 775 deaths were reported
from 17 countries, the WHO said in an update on the global
cholera situation released on Monday.
    Cholera can kill within hours without treatment, although it
can also cause mild or no symptoms. Children under five are at
particular risk.
    The disease is caused by a bacteria spread in contaminated
food and water, and access to clean water and sanitation are
important to stop the spread. But vaccines are also a
life-saving tool.
    There is currently only one WHO-approved producer making
cholera vaccines for global use, South Korea’s Eubiologics Co,
although efforts are underway to expand the pipeline. 
    UNICEF’s deputy director of immunization supplies, Andrew
Jones, said around 2.5 million doses of the vaccine were
currently available monthly, with around 40 million in total
expected this year. However, the demand is expected to be
between 90 and 100 million doses for both outbreak response and
preventative campaigns in 2024, he said.  
    Barboza said some countries are not requesting doses because
they are aware there are none left.
    Those that do ask are often unlikely to get their requested
amount. Zambia requested 3.3 million doses of vaccine, but only
1.9 million were allocated on Feb. 7.
    Jones said the agencies managing the stockpile had to
“prioritize those requests... that are expected to save the most
lives”. 

 (Reporting by Jennifer Rigby and Gloria Dickie; Editing by
Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
 ((Jennifer.Rigby@thomsonreuters.com;))