Vaxchora

The only single-dose oral cholera vaccine

Vaxchora is a live, oral cholera vaccine, a drink containing a weakened strain of Vibrio cholerae bacteria. It helps protect travellers against cholera caused by serogroup O1, usually when visiting areas where cholera is actively circulating.

Key Points

• Who it’s for: In the UK/EU, adults and children aged 2 years and over, according to official recommendations.
• Course: One oral dose, ideally at least 10 days before possible exposure.
• How it differs from Dukoral: Vaxchora is a single-dose live vaccine; Dukoral is an inactivated vaccine given as a multi-dose course.
• Common side effects: Tiredness, headache, stomach pain, nausea/vomiting, and reduced appetite.
• Important caution: Because it’s live, it generally should not be used by people with certain immune-system conditions or who are taking immune-suppressing treatment.
• Antibiotics can also interfere with it, so a travel clinic should check timing.
• It does not replace food-and-water precautions, which remain the main protection against cholera while travelling.

Travel vaccination at Crighton pharmacy are normally given on the day of appointment, if you need further information about the service call or pop in store.