Experts back plan to stretch yellow fever vaccine supply, WHO says

Handout of staff of the Teaching Hospital receiving the first vaccination treatment for yellow fever in El Geneina, West Darfur (Copyright Reuters 2016)

GENEVA – Independent experts have recommended using a fifth of the standard dose of yellow fever vaccine in the event of a global shortage to combat the worst outbreak in decades, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

"Experts agreed to propose if necessary, if there is a shortage of vaccine, to divide the vaccine by five. One fifth of a dose according to their evidence would be sufficient to provide immunity for at least 12 months," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said, reporting on a meeting this week.

The global stockpile of yellow fever vaccines, which has been depleted twice this year to immunize people in Angola, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo against the deadly mosquito-borne disease, currently stands at 6 million doses, WHO said in a statement.