The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved a simplified version of an oral cholera vaccine, allowing for increased overall production amid the widespread prevalence of the virus worldwide.
In a statement released on Friday, the WHO stated that the " Euvichol-S" vaccine is a simplified formulation of "Euvichol-Plus " with fewer components, enabling faster production of higher quantities, according to Agence France-Presse.
The production of the new vaccine will be undertaken by South Korea's Euviologics, which previously had WHO approval for its vaccines " Euvichol " and " Euvichol-Plus."
The WHO clarified that the effectiveness rate of " Euvichol-S" is similar to that of more complex formulations.
Cholera is a disease spread through contaminated food and water containing the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, causing diarrhea and vomiting, which can be severe, especially in young children.
In recent years, cholera cases have doubled worldwide. The WHO reported 473,000 cases in 2022, double the number recorded in 2021. Preliminary data indicates over 700,000 cases in the previous year.
Despite global cholera vaccine supplies increasing by about eighteen times between 2013 and 2023, rising demand has caused a global shortage. Currently, 23 countries have reported cholera outbreaks.
To address this situation, the WHO now recommends receiving a single dose of the vaccine instead of two.
The most severe impacts of the virus have been recorded in Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF, the WHO's approval of the new vaccine will increase the global stockpile from 38 million doses in 2023 to around 50 million this year. The liquid vaccine has a shelf life of 24 months.
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