Deadly Yellow Fever Spreading, Amid Global Vaccine Shortages

A WHO Yellow Vaccination book. Credit: IPS.By Lyndal RowlandsUNITED NATIONS, Aug 19 2016 (IPS)As deadly yellow fever spreads to seven provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), new measures have been introduced to ensure that as many people as possible are immunised, despite global shortages of the yellow fever vaccine.Global emergency stocks of just 6 million yellow fever vaccines have been strained by the current outbreak, which began in Angola and has now spread to neighbouring DRC.To reach as many people as possible with the limited supply of vaccines, the World Health Organization (WHO) has started recommending the use of partial doses.“Studies done in adults show that fractional dosing using one fifth of the regular dose provides effective immunity against yellow fever for at least 12 months and possibly much longer,” WHO Spokesperson Tarik Jašarević told IPS.The WHO began recommending that fractional doses could be used as an emergency measure in June 2016, ensuring additional doses would be available for mass vaccination campaigns in Angola and the DRC.The WHO has also recently changed its recommendations for those who have already been immunised with a complete dose of the yellow fever vaccine.“We know now that a single complete dose provides lifelong protection,” said Jašarević. “There is a global shortage and yellow fever vaccines take quite a long time to produce and I think there are only five outlets in the world that manufacture th...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Aid Development & Aid Featured Global Governance Headlines Health Humanitarian Emergencies IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse Yellow Fever Source Type: news