Baghdad, 12 November 2015 – This week, the Government of Iraq, with the support of WHO and UNICEF, completed the first round of the oral cholera vaccination campaign. The campaign has vaccinated 91% of the targeted population of Syrian refugees and internally displaced Iraqis in camps around the country. The turnout was very high with no refusals or concerns raised regarding the vaccine. A second round will begin in December to administer a second dose to ensure protection against cholera for five years or more.
Oral cholera vaccination campaign
The OCV campaign was discussed and agreed by stakeholders in September 2015. This was followed by planning and training sessions for governorate-level managers of the expanded programme on immunization in Baghdad on 26 and 27 October. On 28 October, training was provided to 1302 vaccinators and 651 social mobilizers in preparation for the first round of the mass vaccination campaign.
The ShancholTM vaccine used in the campaign is a WHO prequalified vaccine. To achieve the required protection among high risk groups, two doses of OCV ShancholTM vaccine will be administered with an interval of two to six weeks.
The first round of the campaign, lasting an initial five days, began on October 31 and the second round is due to take place in early December 2015. The administration of a second dose is needed to extend the duration of protection for five years or more. The vaccine is being administered to all persons over one year of age living in the target camps.
Cholera vaccination is an additional preventive measure that supplements but does not replace other traditional cholera control measures. “We need to intensify health promotion and education activities to help communities protect themselves and their families from cholera and other communicable diseases,” said acting WHO Representative Altaf Musani.
Intensive social mobilization and advocacy campaigns are therefore being undertaken, including the nationwide dissemination of one million water, sanitation and hygiene messages. Messages are being disseminated through electronic media, social media, mobile phones and mobile vans.
The campaign started on 31 October 31 in seven of the 13 governorates, followed by four more on 2 November (Dohuk, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Diyala), one on 3 November (Kirkuk) and one on 4 November (Anbar). Heavy rains, flooding and insecurity have delayed the completion of the vaccination campaign in most governorates in the central and southern parts of Iraq.
The Ministry of Health is leading the emergency response to curb the outbreak with technical support from the Cholera Task Force. In addition to advocacy efforts, the response focuses on supporting water, sanitation, and hygiene activities through monitoring of water quality and ensuring access to safe water inside health facilities and waste management at cholera treatment centres.
Staff from WHO, UNICEF and health cluster partners have been deployed to carry out the monitoring, evaluation and documentation of best practices in the introduction of the OCV in Iraq. They have also facilitated campaign logistics and preparation in selected locations to ensure that as many people as possible are protected.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Rana Sidani
Senior Communication
Officer
WHO Regional Office,
Cairo
Direct: +20 2 22765552
Mobile: +20 1099756506
E-mail:
Ms. Rosane Lopes
Communications Officer
World Health Organization,
Iraq Country Office
E-mail:
Mobile: +964 7809 288 614
