Hecolin Vaccine Breakthrough: Two Doses Slash Hepatitis E Incidence in South Sudan

January 15, 2025
Hecolin Vaccine Breakthrough: Two Doses Slash Hepatitis E Incidence in South Sudan
  • A recent study involving Médecins Sans Frontières, Johns Hopkins University, and the World Health Organization confirmed that the Hecolin vaccine significantly reduces hepatitis E incidence after just two doses.

  • This vaccination campaign in South Sudan was conducted in three rounds during early and late 2022, targeting individuals aged 16 and older.

  • Laboratory analyses following the vaccination revealed important insights into the virus's biological characteristics and immune responses, enhancing future outbreak preparedness.

  • Hepatitis E poses severe risks, particularly for pregnant women and individuals with chronic illnesses, with mortality rates ranging from 10% to 50%.

  • In South Sudan, hepatitis E outbreaks are prevalent in camps for internally displaced persons, such as the Bentiu camp, where inadequate sanitation and flooding exacerbate the situation.

  • The Hecolin vaccine, which was developed in China, had previously been limited to controlled trials and travel medicine, marking this campaign as its first use in an outbreak response.

  • Globally, hepatitis E is estimated to cause around 50,000 deaths annually, underscoring the urgency of effective vaccination and outbreak response.

  • The challenge in detecting hepatitis E is compounded by its symptoms, which often resemble those of other diseases that cause acute jaundice.

  • The WHO has established a global stockpile of hepatitis E vaccines for emergency use, which could save lives and has led to new recommendations for a two-dose vaccination schedule.

  • Although the Hecolin vaccine has been available since 2011, its original three-dose regimen complicates administration in resource-limited settings.

  • Experts emphasize the need to understand the vaccine's effectiveness across different populations and virus variants to optimize its use.

  • The high transmission risk of hepatitis E in South Sudan is largely due to contaminated water sources, highlighting the critical need for improved sanitation.

Summary based on 2 sources


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