Latest articles about cholera       Routine vaccines: Cholera

Gavi’s impact

Approximately 70 million doses of oral cholera vaccine distributed from the Global OCV Stockpile

PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO OUTBREAKS

To support emergency response, humanitarian crises and preventive vaccination in countries with endemic cholera, Gavi has supported the Global Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) Stockpile since 2014. Since then, the Stockpile has been accessed 87 times by 22 countries, with approximately 70 million doses shipped as of end 2020.

The Stockpile comprises an emergency component managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision – the same mechanism used for emergency Ebola, meningococcal and yellow fever vaccine stockpiles – and a non-emergency reserve, which is used to vaccinate preventively in cholera hotspots. The ICG includes four Alliance partners: the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), UNICEF and WHO.

REDUCING CHOLERA DEATHS BY 90% BY 2030

The momentum for action against cholera greatly accelerated in 2018, with the World Health Assembly’s adoption of a resolution on cholera prevention and control, aimed at reducing cholera deaths by 90% by 2030. Increasingly, affected countries are developing national multisectoral cholera control plans, including preventive OCV use to reduce the burden of cholera, prevent outbreaks and protect people while scaling up long-term investments in improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

With its aim to reach unvaccinated children, the Gavi 5.0 strategic period (2021–2025) is an opportunity to pursue synergies with Ending Cholera—A Global Roadmap to 2030 to ensure communities facing multiple deprivations have comprehensive access to health and other services, including safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Cholera control activities can prevent other diarrhoeal diseases; and cholera vaccination campaigns can be leveraged to reach these communities with other essential services.

 

Reaching zero-dose children and missed communities

GROWING MARKET

Demand for the oral cholera vaccine has increased over the past years: in the 15 years between 1997 and 2012, just 1.5 million doses of cholera vaccine were used worldwide; in 2021, approximately 27 million doses were shipped worldwide – a testament to Gavi’s role in increasing supply to meet growing demand.

The issue 

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by contaminated food or water. The disease can quickly lead to severe dehydration and, in its extreme form, can be fatal.

Outbreaks and deaths occur primarily because people cannot access adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and treatment, respectively. The majority of cholera cases can be successfully treated with oral rehydration salts, while severe cases require intravenous fluids. Use of oral cholera vaccines in areas known to be high risk for cholera should supplement core prevention efforts to improve water and sanitation.

Routine vaccines: Cholera

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by contaminated food or water. The disease can quickly lead to severe dehydration and, in its extreme form, can be fatal.

Outbreaks and deaths occur primarily because people cannot access adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and treatment, respectively. The majority of cholera cases can be successfully treated with oral rehydration salts, while severe cases require intravenous fluids. Use of oral cholera vaccines in areas known to be high risk for cholera should supplement core prevention efforts to improve water and sanitation.

Routine vaccines: Cholera

Gavi’s response 

In 2018, as part of the Vaccine Investment Strategy (VIS), Gavi’s Board approved an investment to expand Gavi’s support for preventive OCV use in high-risk areas, known as "hotspots", while continuing its stockpile support for emergency response. The inclusion of OCV as part of a multisectoral approach to fight cholera was a key achievement during the Gavi 4.0 strategic period (2016–2020), which brought an exponential increase of vaccine use for both for outbreak response and prevention in cholera hotspots.

Due to growing demand from countries around the world and the potential impact of expanding the use of cholera vaccine in known hotspots to prevent outbreaks from starting and spreading, Gavi has recently launched the preventive cholera vaccine programme within its portfolio. Countries can submit multi-year plans for vaccine support beginning in 2023, and are encouraged to include activities related to cholera control in other Gavi funding grants.

Learn more

In 2018, as part of the Vaccine Investment Strategy (VIS), Gavi’s Board approved an investment to expand Gavi’s support for preventive OCV use in high-risk areas, known as "hotspots", while continuing its stockpile support for emergency response. The inclusion of OCV as part of a multisectoral approach to fight cholera was a key achievement during the Gavi 4.0 strategic period (2016–2020), which brought an exponential increase of vaccine use for both for outbreak response and prevention in cholera hotspots.

Due to growing demand from countries around the world and the potential impact of expanding the use of cholera vaccine in known hotspots to prevent outbreaks from starting and spreading, Gavi has recently launched the preventive cholera vaccine programme within its portfolio. Countries can submit multi-year plans for vaccine support beginning in 2023, and are encouraged to include activities related to cholera control in other Gavi funding grants.

Learn more

Latest articles about cholera

On Angola’s borderlands, communities brace for cholera

Angola’s last cholera outbreak was in 2017 – but with neighbouring countries battling epidemics, health workers and civilians in frontier provinces are getting ready.

Cholera
Doctors and public authorities outline monitoring strategies on the ground. Credit: Edições Novembro
Read more

Gavi and UNICEF welcome approval of new oral cholera vaccine

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF welcome the news that a new oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Euvichol-S, has now received WHO prequalification and can be made available to countries around the world.

A community health volunteer from Kitengela sub-county hospital is championing and sensitising on the importance of cholera vaccination inside the community of Kitengela. Gavi/2023/Kelvin Juma
Read more

Cholera, an old foe, is becoming a new kind of problem for Kenya

But Kenya is gunning for elimination. KC Cheng surveys the state of play.

Cholera
A child collects water from a borehole tap in Manyatta Secondary of Laisamis town in northern Kenya's Marsabit County. Credit: Kang-Chun Cheng
Read more

New rapid diagnostic tests will bolster cholera surveillance and improve vaccination campaigns

More than 1.2 million cholera rapid diagnostic tests are being shipped to 14 countries to strengthen surveillance and inform decision-making for vaccination campaigns, so that the right people in the right places can be reached at the right time…

CholeraVaccine campaignsVideos
Rapid diagnostic tests shipment arrivals in Malaw. Siula/2024/UNICEF Malawi
Read more

Global deployment of rapid diagnostic tests to boost fight against cholera

More than 1.2 million cholera rapid diagnostic tests will be shipped to 14 countries in largest-ever global deployment, with the first shipment landing today in Malawi.

WHO/A. Abou Fayad
Read more

Eyewitness reports: Cholera on the march again

With oral cholera vaccine (OCV) in short supply, keeping the lid on cholera outbreaks is proving ever more difficult.

CholeraOutbreaks
Health workers go door to door to mobilise children and pregnant women into receiving the oral cholera vaccine. Credit: Taphurother Mutange/Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030
Read more

Outbreak-hit Zimbabweans embrace cholera vaccines with open arms

Fears of a repeat of 2008’s devastating epidemic recede as residents welcome roll-out of 2.3 million doses of oral cholera vaccine. 

CholeraOutbreaksVaccine campaigns
A nurse at Kuwadzana Poly Clinic. Credit: Elia Ntali
Read more

Vaccines roll out in Bangladesh hotspots to keep cholera under control

Cholera is rarely a stranger in Bangladesh, but in Chattogram, Mohammad Al Amin learns how preventive vaccination is offering residents relief.

CholeraVaccine campaigns
Prof Nazmul Islam, Director of Disease Control at the Directorate General of Health Services providing cholera vaccine in Chattogram city
Read more

Zimbabwe digs boreholes to tackle growing cholera outbreak

More than 8,000 Zimbabweans have fallen ill with the deadly bacterial illness since February, but the health system is working hard to get ahead of the growing epidemic.

CholeraOutbreaks
A borehole drilling rig in Harare's Kuwadzana suburb. Credit: Elia Ntali
Read more

Zanzibar is on the path to eliminating cholera, researchers say

Outbreaks of cholera have blighted Zanzibar’s recent history, but in the last half decade, the deadly infection has been brought to heel.

Cholera
A resident of Kijangwani in Zanzibar fetches clean water from public taps for home use. Credit: Syriacus Buguzi
Read more

Kenya cholera vaccine campaign smashes target, but climate change boosts risk

104.5% of the target group were immunised in an August campaign but, amid erratic weather conditions, the threat of cholera remains one to take seriously.

CholeraClimate change
A child is vaccinated against Cholera during the Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign launch held in Nairobi county on 3 August 2023 Credit: Mike Mwaniki
Read more
Last updated: 18 Apr 2024

Subscribe to our newsletter