Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It spreads through contaminated water and food, particularly in settings where water treatment and sewage systems are inadequate. While mild cases resemble ordinary diarrhoea, severe cholera can cause rapid and life-threatening dehydration within hours.
The vaccine against cholera is taken orally as a drink rather than an injection. The standard adult course is two doses taken between 1 and 6 weeks apart, finishing at least a week before departure. As a bonus, the vaccine also provides partial short-term protection against ETEC, a common cause of traveller’s diarrhoea. It is most often recommended for aid workers, volunteers in disaster zones, and travellers heading to areas with active cholera transmission.
Good hygiene practices remain important even after vaccination: drinking safe water, avoiding raw shellfish and uncooked food from street stalls, and washing hands regularly. If you are unsure whether the cholera vaccine is appropriate for your destination, call us on 0161 437 2634.
When you need this vaccine
- Travel to parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Haiti where cholera outbreaks are active or ongoing
- Aid workers, healthcare volunteers, and disaster relief workers in affected regions
- Travellers with limited access to clean water and sanitation during their trip
- Anyone with reduced stomach acid or previous stomach surgery, which increases susceptibility
- Travellers staying in refugee camps or other crowded settings with poor sanitation
Schedule
- Two doses of the oral vaccine (Dukoral) taken 1 to 6 weeks apart, completed at least 1 week before travel.
- Children aged 2 to 6 years need three doses taken 1 to 6 weeks apart.
- The vaccine also provides short term protection against traveller's diarrhoea caused by ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli).
- A booster single dose is recommended after 2 years for adults and after 6 months for children 2 to 6 years old.