WHO restarts preventive cholera vaccinations after global shortage

WHO, GAVI and UNICEF said oral cholera vaccine stocks improved to nearly 70 million doses last year and a first allocation of 20 million doses is being deployed to Mozambique, Congo and Bangladesh.

WHO announced the restart of preventive cholera vaccination programs after a nearly four-year pause caused by a global vaccine shortage. The announcement was made in a joint statement with GAVI and UNICEF. Stockpiles of oral cholera vaccines improved last year to nearly 70 million doses, allowing preventive campaigns to resume. An initial allocation of 20 million doses is being deployed to several priority countries. Key details: - WHO, GAVI and UNICEF said global oral cholera vaccine stocks improved to nearly 70 million doses last year. - A first allocation of 20 million doses is being deployed, with 3.6 million doses to Mozambique, 6.1 million to Congo and 10.3 million planned for Bangladesh. - Preventive campaigns had been limited to outbreak response since 2022 after demand surged and the stockpile fell to about 35 million doses. - WHO said a one-dose vaccination strategy will remain the standard, with two-dose campaigns considered on a case-by-case basis. - More than 600,000 cholera cases and nearly 7,600 deaths were reported to WHO last year. Summary: The improved vaccine supply has allowed preventive cholera vaccination programs to resume, and an initial 20 million-dose allocation is being sent to countries facing heightened risk. WHO plans to keep a one-dose strategy as the standard approach while considering two-dose campaigns where appropriate.