Vaccines

CDC recommends vaccination for people traveling to or living in areas of active cholera transmission. Check CDC’s Travel Health Notices website to identify areas with active cholera transmission.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends cholera vaccination in these circumstances:

  • In areas where local transmission of cholera occurs
  • During humanitarian crises with a high risk of cholera
  • During cholera outbreaks

Visit a doctor or travel clinic to talk about vaccination if you will be traveling to or living in one of these areas. You can discuss options with a healthcare provider.

Several vaccines can help prevent cholera and improve health outcomes. But cholera vaccines are not 100% effective. Follow CDC’s cholera prevention tips to help keep safe when visiting or living in an area with cholera.

Vaxchora

Check CDC’s Travel Health Notices website to identify areas with active cholera transmission. Talk to your doctor about vaccination if you will be traveling to one of these areas.

Vaxchora (lyophilized CVD 103-HgR) is a single-dose, oral vaccine FDA-approved in the United States for use in people aged 2–64 who are traveling to an area of active cholera transmission.

Vaxchora should be taken at least 10 days before travel to an area of active cholera transmission.

The vaccine manufacturer reports Vaxchora reduces the chance of moderate and severe diarrhea in people by 90% at 10 days after vaccination and by 80% at 3 months after vaccination. It is unknown how long protection lasts beyond 3–6 months after vaccination.

Learn more about the vaccine at the maker’s website at www.vaxchora.com.

Dukoral, ShanChol, and Euvichol-Plus

Three other oral cholera vaccines have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). These vaccines are not available in the United States. They are:

  • Dukoral
  • ShanChol
  • Euvichol-Plus/Euvichol

To learn more about these vaccines, visit the World Health Organization Cholera Vaccines page.

Summary

Summary of cholera vaccines
Vaccine name
(Manufacturer)
How given Number of doses recommended Age range How long vaccination is effective Available in the US?
Vaxchora
(Emergent BioSolutions)
By mouth 1 dose 2–64 years At least 3–6 months Yes
Dukoral
(SBL Vaccines)
By mouth 2 doses, given 1–6 weeks apart

(Children aged 2–5 years need 3 doses, given 1 to 6 weeks apart)

2 years and older 2 years No
ShanChol  *
(Sanofi Healthcare India Private Limited)
By mouth 2 doses, given at least 2 weeks apart 1 year and older At least 3 years for 2 doses; short-term protection for 1 dose No
Euvichol-Plus  *
(EuBiologics)
By mouth 2 doses, given at least 2 weeks apart 1 year and older At least 3 years for 2 doses; short-term protection for 1 dose No

* Shanchol and Euvichol-Plus use the same vaccine formula but are produced by different makers. These vaccines are currently available for mass vaccination campaigns.