South Sudan received 1.1 million doses of cholera vaccines on Monday as the country battles a growing outbreak of the disease.
The vaccines, donated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), arrived by air in the capital, Juba. Gabriel Buom Tap, UNICEF Immunization Officer, explained that the vaccine requires two doses for full immunity, but even a single dose can provide protection within two weeks and last for up to six months. A second dose can offer protection for up to three years.
The cholera outbreak, which was first declared in October in a border town between Sudan and South Sudan, has since spread to six of the country’s 10 states. Displaced individuals, particularly those affected by floods, as well as refugees from Sudan, are among the most affected groups.
According to South Sudan’s government, more than 100 people have died from the outbreak, and over 6,000 people are currently infected.
The government is urging health officials and other organizations to intensify efforts to contain the spread of the disease.
“I urge the media and civil society to join hands in disseminating information and raising awareness about the importance of vaccination,” said Yolanda Awel Deng, South Sudan’s Health Minister.