Global cholera vaccine stockpile insufficient to meet countries' demands

The International Coordination Group for Vaccine Supply has received requests from Bangladesh, Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia and Myanmar for a total of 8.4 million doses of vaccine. However, only 7.6 million doses have been sent.

Bệnh nhân mắc tả được điều trị tại trung tâm y tế ở Tele, Mozambique. (Ảnh: AFP/TTXVN)

Treating cholera patients at a medical center in Tele, Mozambique. (Source: VNA)

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on October 18 that the global stockpile of oral cholera vaccine has been completely depleted, putting efforts to control the spread of the disease in jeopardy.

According to WHO, although vaccine production is underway at full capacity, demand still far exceeds supply.

In a new monthly report, the agency stated: "As of October 14, the global stockpile of oral cholera vaccine was depleted, with no doses available. Although more vaccine is expected to become available in the coming weeks, the shortage is posing a major challenge to response efforts and hindering efforts to control the spread of the disease."

Between September 1 and October 14, the International Coordination Group for Vaccine Supply received requests from Bangladesh, Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia and Myanmar for a total of 8.4 million doses of vaccine. However, due to limited supply, only 7.6 million doses were dispatched.

WHO also announced that in 2024, the world recorded 439,724 cases of cholera and 3,432 deaths (as of September 29). Although the number of infections decreased by 16% compared to last year, the number of deaths increased by 126%, causing the agency to be extremely concerned.

The increase in mortality may be due to outbreaks occurring in conflict-affected areas where access to health services is difficult, as well as in areas affected by flooding.

Since last month’s report, new cholera outbreaks have occurred in Niger (705 cases and 17 deaths) and Thailand (5 cases but no deaths), bringing the total number of affected countries in 2024 to 30.

In September alone, 47,234 new cases were reported from 14 countries.

This month, conflict-torn Lebanon also reported its first case of cholera, with the WHO warning that the risk of the disease spreading there is high due to worsening sanitation conditions, especially in displaced communities.

Cholera is an acute infection of the small intestine, spread through food and water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, usually from human feces.

The disease causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and muscle spasms, and can be fatal within hours if left untreated.

However, the disease can be treated with simple measures such as oral rehydration, and antibiotics in severe cases.

The global vaccine alliance Gavi and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in April that South Korea's EuBiologics is currently the sole supplier of an oral cholera vaccine to the global stockpile.

While other manufacturers are expected to deliver products in the next few years, the current situation is still very tense and requires urgent production ramp-up to meet growing demand.

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