South Sudan received 1.1 million cholera vaccine doses on Monday as part of its efforts to combat a growing outbreak. The vaccines, donated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), arrived in Juba via air.
Gabriel Buom Tap, UNICEF Immunization Officer, explained, “This is a two-dose vaccine, but even a single dose provides immunity within two weeks for up to six months. The second dose offers protection for up to three years.”
The cholera outbreak, declared in October in a border town between Sudan and South Sudan, has spread to six of the country’s 10 states. The most affected populations are those displaced by floods and refugees from Sudan.
More than 100 deaths have been reported, with over 6,000 people currently infected. The South Sudan government is urging the health sector and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to contain the disease.
Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng emphasized, “I urge the media and civil society to join in raising awareness about the importance of vaccination.”