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Registered Yellow Fever Centre, Cambridge
Working in a disaster zone, or heading somewhere with an active cholera outbreak? Then this vaccine is worth a conversation. Cholera is a bacterial infection caught from contaminated water and food. For most holidaymakers the risk is extremely low, and UK guidance does not recommend the cholera vaccine for most travellers. It is advised for some people whose work, destination or health puts them at higher risk. At Cambridge Travel Clinic we can assess your trip and let you know whether an oral cholera vaccine is worth having. Book a travel consultation to talk it through.
What is cholera?
Cholera is caused by bacteria that spread through water or food contaminated with infected faeces. Many people have mild symptoms or none at all. In others it causes sudden, watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration. TravelHealthPro notes that with prompt treatment, mainly replacing lost fluids, the risk of dying is less than 1%, but untreated severe cholera can be fatal.
Cholera occurs where access to clean water and sanitation is poor, and outbreaks often follow conflict, flooding and other disasters. Risk is mostly linked to:
Drinking untreated water
Eating poorly cooked food, especially seafood, in areas with outbreaks
Living or working in crowded or unsanitary conditions, such as refugee camps or disaster zones
We check current outbreak information on TravelHealthPro for your destination, whether you are heading to parts of Africa, Asia or elsewhere.
Who is the cholera vaccine recommended for?
Following TravelHealthPro and the UKHSA Green Book, vaccination can be considered after a full risk assessment for:
Humanitarian aid and disaster relief workers
People going to areas with cholera outbreaks who will have limited access to safe water and medical care
Other travellers to risk areas where vaccination is likely to help, because of their work, planned activities or health problems
Laboratory workers who may be regularly exposed to cholera
No country can require proof of cholera vaccination for entry, so there is no certificate involved. The decision is about your personal risk.
How the oral cholera vaccine is given
Cholera vaccines in the UK are taken by mouth as a drink, not as an injection. There are two types, an inactivated oral vaccine and a live oral vaccine, and we will discuss which is suitable for you.
Inactivated oral cholera vaccine
Adults and children aged 6 and over: 2 doses, at least 1 week and less than 6 weeks apart, giving protection for about 2 years
Children aged 2 to under 6: 3 doses, each at least 1 week and less than 6 weeks apart, giving protection for about 6 months
The course should be finished at least 1 week before you could be exposed
If more than 6 weeks pass between doses, the course is restarted
Not recommended for children under 2
Live oral cholera vaccine
Adults and children aged 2 and over: a single dose
Taken at least 10 days before possible exposure
Not suitable for anyone with a weakened immune system
Should not be taken within 14 days after antibiotics, and antibiotics should be avoided for 10 days afterwards
There are no data yet on when, or whether, a repeat dose is needed
For both types, avoid food, drink and other oral medicines for 1 hour before and 1 hour after each dose. If you are also having the oral typhoid vaccine, there are timing rules to follow. We will plan this with you, or offer an injectable typhoid vaccine if that suits you better.
Who should not have the cholera vaccine?
The Green Book advises that cholera vaccines should not be given to anyone with an allergy to any vaccine ingredient. Vaccination should be postponed if you have an acute stomach upset or a high temperature.
Weakened immune system: the live vaccine should not be used. The inactivated vaccine can be considered, although the response may be lower
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: there is little safety data for oral cholera vaccines. If the risk of cholera is high, the inactivated vaccine may be considered
Food and water hygiene still matter
The Green Book is clear that vaccination is not a substitute for good hygiene. The vaccine does not protect against every cause of travellers’ diarrhoea, so careful food and water habits are your main protection:
Wash your hands with soap and clean water after the toilet and before eating, or use alcohol gel if there is no water
Drink sealed bottled water or water that has been boiled, and use it for brushing your teeth
Avoid ice in drinks where the water may not be safe
Choose food that is freshly cooked and served piping hot
Avoid salads, raw or undercooked seafood, shellfish and unpasteurised dairy, and peel fruit yourself
Get medical help quickly if you cannot keep fluids down or show signs of dehydration
Many of the same precautions help protect against hepatitis A and typhoid, so ask us about hepatitis A and B vaccines too.
Book your cholera vaccine in Cambridge
Some people may be able to get the cholera vaccine on the NHS through their GP, so it is worth asking your surgery. If you would prefer to come to us, see our pricing page. We’ll check stock when you book so the vaccine is ready for your appointment.
Every appointment is with one of our pharmacists. We check your whole itinerary against current UK guidance and go through every vaccine and travel medicine you might need in one visit.
We have two branches, and both are registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres. Cambridge Travel Clinic at Petersfield Pharmacy, 56 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AS (01223 354383), is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Book at Mill Road online. Cambridge Travel Clinic at Waterbeach Pharmacy, 5 Greenside, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9HW (01223 564422), is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 1:30pm to 5:45pm. Book at Waterbeach online.
We see travellers from Cambridge, Cherry Hinton, Trumpington, Chesterton, Histon, Milton, Cottenham, Waterbeach and nearby villages. We’re happy to talk through your plans, however close your departure.