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Oral Cholera Vaccine helps to boost cholera prevention and control efforts in Malawi

Lilongwe - It is a hot afternoon in Felo village of Chikwawa district, and a twenty-year-old Dorophy Aubrey and her two children are walking to the chief’s house which is designated as a vaccination site for oral cholera vaccine (OCV). “I have been receiving oral cholera vaccine since 2015, I understand its benefits in protecting us from getting sick from cholera,” she says joyfully.

Their village is mapped as a cholera hotspot, and it is targeted for a reactive 7-day oral cholera vaccination champaign which runs from 28 September. The vaccination champaign is designed to vaccinate people from one year and above in three districts of Mangochi, Chikwawa and Nsanje. These are the districts where cholera is re-appearing regularly and therefore OCV can prevent further transmission of the disease in these areas. For Dorothy, this marks an opportunity to apply an extra layer of protection from cholera-an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

OCV as a complementary tool
A mother and her two children with vaccination child
In August 2023, the Ministry of Health declared the current cholera outbreak in Malawi as no longer a public health emergency following a downward trend in cholera cases and deaths in recent months. However, the country continues to register sporadic cases in areas that were affected by Cyclone Freddy, which caused damage to water and sanitation facilities among other things. There is also a risk of cross-border transmission of cholera between Malawi and neighbouring Mozambique which has an active outbreak.
To interrupt the spread of cholera, the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization is leading efforts to stop the transmission of cholera including the deployment of OCV. The vaccine was provided through International Coordination Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision with support from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
A child receiving oral cholera vaccine
“As WHO, we are providing technical support to the Ministry of Health to implement a targeted multi-sectoral approach to prevent cholera recurrence. We have ensured a strategic deployment of the oral cholera vaccines in cholera hotspots. These hotspots play a significant role in the spread of cholera to other areas and for this reason we ensured proper mapping of targeted population and areas,” says Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, WHO Representative for Malawi.
“Cholera vaccination is a complementary cholera prevention and control measure. We have already witnessed its impact in the past campaigns and are hopeful that this August campaign will yield positive results.”
Protecting communities at risk
WHO vaccinating communities
In efforts to reach all targeted populations in cholera hotspots, the OCV campaign was implemented through innovative approaches. The campaign that reached over 428,000 people in three districts, was implemented through coordinated efforts by WHO and the Ministry of Health. Before the campaign, WHO supported the Ministry of Health to conduct adequate social mobilization using various channels including community orientation with local leaders, volunteers, and community health workers. Consequently, there was a high vaccine acceptance in communities, that resulted in high coverage at national level which is at 100 percent.
WHO staff supporting OCV campaign in the field
To ensure successful implementation of the campaign, vaccine sites were set up in designated areas such as markets, community halls, churches, mosques, and community leaders’ houses. Mobile teams also conducted door to door visits to expand the reach as far as possible.
“We appreciate all the efforts that are being implemented in our communities to end cholera. We will continue to do our best to employ other preventative measures including the use of safe water and adoption of hygiene and sanitation practices. We know that by working together with organizations like you (WHO) and the government, we can kick cholera out of our community for good” says Dorothy.
Children displaying their vaccination cards
For Additional Information or to Request Interviews, Please contact:
Veronica Mukhuna

Communications Officer
WHO Malawi
email: mukhunav [at] who.int (mukhunav[at]who[dot]int)
Tel: +265 999 375 094