A groundbreaking new oral vaccine for cholera has recently been granted prequalification by the World Health Organization (WHO) on April 12th. This new inactivated oral vaccine, Euvichol-S, boasts similar efficacy to existing vaccines but with a simplified formulation that allows for a quicker increase in production capacity.

Dr. Rogerio Gaspar, Director of the WHO Department for Regulation and Prequalification, expressed optimism about the new vaccine, stating, “The new vaccine is the third product of the same family of vaccines we have for cholera in our WHO prequalification list. The new prequalification is hoped to enable a rapid increase in production and supply, which many communities battling with cholera outbreaks urgently need.”

The WHO prequalification list already includes Euvichol and Euvichol-Plus inactivated oral cholera vaccines produced by EuBiologicals Co., Ltd, Republic of South Korea, the same company behind the new Euvichol-S vaccine.

Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing, limiting, and controlling cholera outbreaks, especially in countries where access to safe water, hygiene, and sanitation is lacking. In 2022, WHO reported 473,000 cases of cholera, double the number from the previous year. An additional 700,000 cases are estimated for 2023, with 23 countries currently experiencing cholera outbreaks. The most severe impacts are being felt in the Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

This new oral vaccine offers hope for communities struggling with cholera outbreaks, providing a much-needed tool in the fight against this deadly disease. With its simplified formulation and potential for increased production capacity, Euvichol-S has the potential to make a significant impact in the global effort to combat cholera.