Cholera - Cholera vaccination

There is a vaccination available to protect you against cholera when travelling, although most people will not need it because food and water hygiene precautions are normally enough to prevent infection.

Vaccination is usually only recommended for travellers to areas where cholera is widespread, particularly for aid workers and people likely to have limited access to medical services.

The cholera vaccine is normally available on the NHS, but this can vary. It is also available through private prescription from a private travel clinic.

The vaccine

The cholera vaccine is given as a drink, where the vaccination ingredients are mixed with water. You should avoid eating, drinking or taking oral medication for an hour before and after having the vaccination.

For adults and children over the age of six, two doses of the vaccine are needed to protect against cholera for two years. After this, a booster is required if you continue to be at risk.

Children aged two to six years old will need to have three doses of the vaccine. This will protect them for six months, after which time they will need to have a booster if they continue to be at risk.

All the doses must be taken between one and six weeks apart. If more than six weeks passes between your doses, you will need to start the full vaccination course again.

Ideally, the vaccinations should be completed at least one week before travelling.

The cholera vaccine is not recommended for children under two years of age because it is not clear how well it works in this age group.

Side effects and precautions

After having the cholera vaccine, less than one in every 100 people will experience short-term symptoms similar to a mild stomach upset, such as abdominal (tummy) pain, diarrhoea and nausea. Severe reactions are very rare.

Most people can have the vaccination safely, but you should tell the doctor or nurse before being vaccinated if:

• you have a high temperature (fever) or stomach upset
• you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant
• you are breastfeeding
• you have a condition, or are receiving treatment, that affects your immune system

In these circumstances you may still be able to have the vaccine if you are at a high risk of cholera, but your doctor or nurse may need to check with a travel medicine specialist before giving it to you. The vaccination may need to be delayed if you are unwell with a fever or upset stomach.

You should not have the vaccine if you have had an allergic reaction to the cholera vaccine or any of the vaccine components in the past.