New Cholera Vaccine Prequalified by WHO to Address Global Shortage and Control Outbreaks

In recent news, the World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified the Euvichol-S cholera vaccine on April 19, in a bid to address the ongoing global shortage of cholera vaccines. This new vaccine, which is administered orally and has a simpler formula, is just as effective as current vaccines. It is the third type of cholera vaccine to be included in the prequalification list, following Euvichol and Euvichol-Plus. By adding this new vaccine to the list, the WHO hopes to increase production capacity and aid in disease control efforts worldwide.

The addition of Euvichol-S to the prequalification list means that it meets the organization’s standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness. This allows United Nations agencies such as Gavi and UNICEF to purchase the vaccine for distribution to many countries. The number of cholera cases has been on the rise globally since January 2023, with over 824,000 cases and 5,900 deaths reported. The Middle East and Africa have seen the highest number of cholera cases, with an increase being attributed to rising global temperatures.

Countries experiencing outbreaks in January 2024 requested about 79 million doses of vaccine, but stockpiles were running low due to not enough demand. There used to be two manufacturers of cholera vaccines, but one of them stopped production, leaving only one supplier. This led to a shortage of supply due to not enough demand. Vietnam currently uses mORCVAX, which is effective in preventing cholera and locally produced.

Dr. Bach Thi Chinh from VNVC Vaccination System explained that cholera is an acute infectious disease caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria that spread through contaminated water and food leading symptoms like bloating, stomach cramps diarrhea vomiting. Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing and combating this disease especially during global outbreaks where many countries lack disease control tools. VNVC has over 170 centers nationwide offering a wide range of vaccines for both children and adults including cholera vaccines