Cholera Vaccine Demand in 2024 Continues Overwhelming Supply

As the global cholera epidemic enters another year, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues classifying cholera's  resurgence as a grade 3 emergency, its highest internal level for emergencies.

And access to protective vaccines is decreasing.

On February 12, 2024, the WHO published its 11th multi-country cholera outbreak External Situation Report, which confirmed the global cholera response continues to be affected by a critical shortage of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV).

From January 2023 to January 2024, urgent requests for OCV surged, with 76 million OCV doses requested by 14 countries, while only 38 million doses were available during that period.

The global stockpile of cholera vaccines is awaiting replenishment, and all production up to March 8, 2024, will be allocated to approved requests.

The U.S. CDC recommends vaccination for people traveling to or living in areas of active cholera transmission. However, cholera vaccinations are not 100% effective.

Vaxchora, a single-dose, oral vaccine, is U.S. FDA-approved for use in people aged 2–64.

The WHO has approved three other OCVs.