ABUJA – Dr. Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer of the Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, announced on Thursday that cholera vaccines would soon be arriving in Nigeria to help curb the ongoing and deadly outbreak of the disease.
Nishtar made the announcement on her X handle, expressing concern over the cholera outbreak in Nigeria and stating that Gavi is prepared to support the country’s response, including the provision of emergency vaccine doses as needed.
Cholera, a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is primarily transmitted through contaminated water and food. The outbreak has been exacerbated by the rainy season, which often leads to flooding and compromised water sources.
As of July 15, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 3,623 suspected cholera cases and 103 deaths across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The outbreak has spread to 187 Local Government Areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 percent since the beginning of the year. Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, noted that children aged five years old are the most affected, with males accounting for 52 percent of cases.
In her post, Nishtar tweeted, “Encouraged to learn that #Cholera vaccines from the #Gavi-funded global vaccine stockpile will soon arrive in Nigeria to help curb the country’s deadly and ongoing outbreak. We stand ready to work with our partners #UNICEF and #WHO to support Minister #muhammadpate, #Fmohnigeria, and #NCDCgov’s timely efforts to contain this outbreak and protect those at the highest risk.”
She also mentioned that despite the numerous cholera outbreaks this year, the global vaccine stockpile is fully replenished and production is continuing at maximum capacity.
Responding to Nishtar’s announcement, Prof. Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, thanked Gavi’s CEO for facilitating the vaccine delivery. He tweeted, “Thanks #SaniaNishtar for facilitating our early access to #gavi-funded #Cholera vaccines. We will deploy the vaccines efficiently and effectively in response to the ongoing outbreak.”
Pate also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his leadership in establishing a multi-sector cabinet committee to support the National Emergency Operations Centre led by the NCDC. He noted early signs of a slowdown in the outbreak but emphasized the importance of continued vigilance and the role of the cholera vaccines in strengthening the country’s response.
Additionally, Pate affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerating efforts to improve water and sanitation conditions across Nigeria.
Currently, there are three World Health Organization pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines available: Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol, all of which require two doses for full protection.
