Cholera Vaccine

Dukoral is the oral cholera vaccine licensed in the UK. It is taken as a drink, not as an injection. The suspension is mixed with a buffer solution at the clinic and consumed. You should avoid food and drink, including chewing gum, for one hour before and one hour after taking each dose. The vaccine should be consumed within two hours of preparation.

Not necessarily. The cholera vaccine is not recommended as routine for all travellers to endemic regions. It is recommended for those at higher risk: aid workers, healthcare workers, backpackers in areas with limited sanitation, VFR travellers staying in local accommodation, and those travelling during an active outbreak. Your clinician will advise based on your specific itinerary and risk profile.

The full two-dose course should be completed at least one week before travel to an at-risk region. Two weeks or more is preferable where your schedule allows it. If you are travelling at short notice, come in as soon as possible and your clinician will advise on what is achievable in your timeframe.

Yes. Dukoral is licensed for children from age two. Children aged two to five need three doses taken one to six weeks apart; children aged six and over need two doses, the same as adults. Let us know when booking if you are bringing a child so we can allow appropriate time and prepare the correct dose volume.

In adults and children aged six and over, protection from a full two-dose course lasts up to two years. In children aged two to five, protection lasts up to six months. If you remain at risk beyond these periods, a booster dose is recommended.

Yes. Dukoral can be taken at the same time as other travel vaccinations. The oral vaccine does not interfere with injectable vaccines administered at the same visit. Your clinician will confirm timing at your pre-vaccination consultation.

Adults and children aged six and over need two doses, taken one to six weeks apart. Children aged two to five need three doses, taken one to six weeks apart. The full course should be completed at least one week before potential exposure to cholera.

Not routinely. The cholera vaccine is not funded by the NHS for most travellers and must be accessed privately. Your GP may be able to advise on eligibility in specific circumstances, but for the majority of travellers, private vaccination is the practical route.

Partially. Dukoral provides cross-protection against enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), one of the most common causes of traveller’s diarrhoea. This protection is estimated at around 25 to 50 per cent and lasts approximately three months in adults. While it is not a substitute for food and water precautions, it does offer a meaningful secondary benefit for travellers to high-risk regions.

Dukoral is generally well tolerated. The most commonly reported side effects are mild gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, and occasionally headache. These are usually brief and resolve without treatment. Serious reactions are rare.

Yes, if you remain at risk. Adults and children aged six and over who need ongoing protection require a booster within two years of the initial course. Children aged two to five need a booster within six months. If you have previously had Dukoral and need a single booster dose, your clinician will confirm whether the interval since your last dose allows a single top-up rather than a full repeat course.

The available data on Dukoral in pregnancy is limited, and it is not routinely recommended unless the risk of cholera is considered high. Your clinician will discuss your individual circumstances and advise on the most appropriate course of action.