Global Cholera Vaccine Shortage: A Crisis Amplified
February 27, 2024
The world faces an unprecedented cholera vaccine shortage amidst surging outbreaks across developing nations in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. This crisis, deemed both regrettable and avoidable, is exacerbated by a significant increase in cases and deaths reported within one month, marking the worst vaccine shortage since the 1990s. Only one of the three WHO-qualified vaccines continues production, barely meeting a fraction of global demand. Experts criticize this shortage as a reflection of the disease’s neglect, particularly affecting the poorest populations. Efforts to extend the limited vaccine supply have compromised effectiveness, with a shift from a two-dose to a one-dose administration protocol. The shortage is attributed to the low profitability of cholera vaccines, leading to a lack of interest from pharmaceutical companies. This situation leaves health workers to prioritize non-vaccine interventions, underscoring cholera not only as a health but also as a developmental issue exacerbated by climate change and economic inequality.
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[Source: STAT, February 27th, 2024]
