Cholera Vaccine

Cholera vaccine is used for active immunization against disease caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 in adults aged 18-64 years traveling to cholera-affected areas.

Cholera vaccine is available under the following different brand names: Vaxchora.

Dosages of Cholera Vaccine:

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Oral Suspension (After Reconstitution)

• 100mL (following reconstitution)
• Supplied as a foil packet of buffer and an accompanying foil packet of the active component (lyophilized V cholerae CVD 103-HgR)

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Cholera Prevention

• Indicated for active immunization against disease caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 in adults aged 18-64 years traveling to cholera-affected areas.
• 100 mL orally as a single dose a minimum of 10 days before potential exposure to cholera

Centers for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (CDC ACIP) recommendations

• Recommended for adult travelers (aged 18–64 years) from the United States to an area of active cholera transmission
• Duration of protection conferred by the primary dose beyond the evaluated 3-month period is unknown
• There is no recommendation for use of booster doses at this time
• MMWR; May 12, 2017/66(18);482-485

Dosing Considerations

Limitations of use

• Effectiveness has not been established in persons living in cholera-affected areas
• Effectiveness has not been established in persons who have preexisting immunity from previous exposure to V cholerae or receipt of a cholera vaccine
• Cholera vaccine has not been shown to protect against disease caused by V cholerae serogroup O139 or other non-O1 serogroups
• Children under 18 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Adults 65 years and older: Safety and efficacy not established

Common side effects of cholera vaccine include:

• Mild/moderate headache
• Mild/moderate tiredness
• Mild/moderate nausea/vomiting
• Mild/moderate abdominal pain
• Decreased appetite, mild

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

Severe interactions of cholera vaccine include:

• ibrutinib
• lomustine
• mechlorethamine
• melphalan
• onasemnogene abeparvovec
• procarbazine

The cholera vaccine has serious interactions with at least 98 different drugs.

The cholera vaccine has moderate interactions with at least 141 different drugs.

The cholera vaccine has no listed mild interactions with other drugs.
 

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings
 

This medication contains a cholera vaccine. Do not take Vaxchora if you are allergic to the cholera vaccine or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• History of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any vaccine ingredient or a previous dose of any cholera vaccine

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Cholera Vaccine?”

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Cholera Vaccine?”

Cautions

• Safety and effectiveness have not been established in immunocompromised persons
• Viral shedding may occur in the stool of recipients for at least 7 days; potential for transmission of the vaccine strain to nonvaccinated close contacts (e.g., household contacts); caution when considering whether to administer to individuals with immunocompromised close contacts

Pregnancy and Lactation

Cholera vaccine is not absorbed systemically following oral administration, and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug. Maternal cholera disease is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal death. Vaccine strain may be shed in the stool of the vaccinated mother for at least 7 days, with a potential for transmission from mother to infant during vaginal delivery. There is a pregnancy registry for pregnant women who have received cholera vaccine: 1-800-533-5899.

Cholera vaccine is not absorbed systemically by the mother following oral administration, and breastfeeding is not expected to result in the exposure of the child.