Oral Cholera vaccine stockpile

Since 2013, the ICG for cholera vaccine manages the global stockpile of OCV which was created as an additional tool to help control cholera epidemics. Since its establishment until October 2022, almost 73 million doses of OCV were shipped to 23 countries for emergency response.

The ICG also works with partners and stakeholders to allocate vaccines in the context of an integrated cholera response based around early detection, case management, provision of safe water, sanitation, and raising awareness among the affected communities.

Accessing ICG oral Cholera vaccine stocks

The main objective of the oral cholera vaccine stockpile is to ensure a timely and targeted deployment of vaccines as part of an effective outbreak response. While vaccines provide a short-term effect as an immediate intervention to a potential cholera outbreak, expanding access to improved drinking-water sources and sanitation is a longer-term solution for most waterborne diseases, including cholera.

To request access to OCV, the country should submit the OCV ICG request form, annexes and other required documents to the ICG secretariat, as per the checklist in the request form. An ICG member agency (IRFC, MSF, UNICEF, WHO) present in the country can also submit the application on behalf of the Ministry of Health. It is highly recommended that the country submits the request to the ICG secretariat within 7 days after confirmation of the outbreak. The ICG secretariat at WHO then circulates the request to the member agencies (IFRC, MSF, UNICEF, and WHO) for review and assessment within 1 day after receiving the country request. Additional information can be requested to the country, if needed.

Requests are evaluated taking into account the epidemiological situation, vaccination strategy, vaccine availability in the emergency stockpile, pre-existing stocks in the country and operational aspects of the epidemic response.

Following a rapid consultation and evaluation process, the ICG takes the decision to release vaccines to the requesting country within 2 working days, once all necessary information has been provided. If approved, UNICEF organizes the delivery of vaccines to the country, ideally within 7 days.

The ICG mandate is to respond to the outbreak and break the transmission of diseases as soon as possible in order to save as many lives as possible. Therefore, countries should implement the reactive vaccination campaign within 10 days after receiving the vaccines.

English

Request form | Annexes | GAVI budget template for operational costs

Français

Formulaire de demande | Annexes | Modèle de budget GAVI pour les coûts opérationnels

• Minimum M&E information