The worldwide shortage of cholera vaccines has forced the International Coordination Group (ICG) of the World Health Organization (WHO), the body that manages emergency vaccine supplies, to temporarily discontinue the standard two-dose vaccine regimeninstead using a single dose approach.
This change of strategy will allow you to use the doses in more countries “At a time of unprecedented increase in cholera outbreaks around the world,” WHO reported Wednesday.
Since January of this year, 29 countries have reported cases of cholera, including Haiti, Malawi and Syria, which are facing major outbreaks. By comparison, in the previous 5 years, fewer than 20 countries have reported outbreaks on average.
The global trend is towards more numerous, more widespread and more serious outbreaksdue to floods, droughts, conflicts, population shifts and other factors that limit access to safe drinking water and increase the risk of cholera outbreaks.
One dose
“The one-dose strategy has been shown to be effective in responding to outbreaks, although evidence on the exact duration of protection is limited and the protection appears to be much less in children. With a two-dose regimen, when the second dose is administered within 6 months from the first, immunity against infections lasts 3 years“, detailed the WHO.
Hence, they claim itthe benefit of administering one dose is even greater than not administering: Although the temporary discontinuation of the two-dose strategy will lead to reduced and reduced immunity, this decision will allow more people to be vaccinated and will provide short-term protection should the global cholera situation continue to deteriorate. ”
According to the WHO, the current supply of cholera vaccines is “extremely limited”. Its use for emergency response is coordinated by the GIC, which manages the global supply of oral cholera vaccines.
Of the total of 36 million doses expected to be produced in 2022, 24 million have already been sent for preventive campaigns (17%) and responsive (83%) and the GIC approved an additional 8 million doses for the second round of emergency vaccination in 4 countries, demonstrating the severe shortage of the vaccine.
“As vaccine manufacturers are producing at their current capacity, there is no short-term solution to increase production. The temporary suspension of the two-dose strategy will allow redirect the remaining doses for any need during the rest of the year“, insists the WHO.
Either way, remember that it is a “short-term” solution.. “But to alleviate the problem in the long term, urgent action is needed to increase global vaccine production,” the WHO stressed.
