Oral Cholera Vaccine Shortage Continues During Expanding Outbreaks

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today it considers the current global risk from cholera as very high since cholera cases increased by 13% and deaths (~4,000) by 71% last year compared to 2022.

Across all continents as of mid-August 2024, 342,800 cholera cases and 2,400 related deaths have already been reported to WHO.

Unfortunately, as of September 4, 2024, there is insufficient oral cholera vaccine (OCV) supply to meet the global demand.

Since October 2022, the International Coordinating Group, which manages emergency vaccine supplies, has suspended the standard two-dose vaccination regimen in cholera outbreak response campaigns, adopting a single-dose approach instead to reach and protect more people given limited supplies.

Despite the low stockpile of OCV, a record 35 million doses were shipped last year, with the one-dose strategy in effect.

The WHO has prequalified Dukoral®, Shanchol™, Euvichol®, and the Euvichol-S OCVs to address the supply shortfall.

In the United States, OCVs are available at travel clinics and pharmacies.