What is Vaxchora?
Vaxchora is the first authorized single-dose oral vaccine for cholera in Canada. It is somewhat different from the other existing oral cholera vaccine authorized for use in Canada known as Dukoral, since Vaxchora is an activated oral vaccine as opposed to an inactivated oral vaccine.
How Does Vaxchora Work?
Vaxchora stimulates the immune system to recognize and fight the cholera bacteria. After administration, the vaccine helps the body produce antibodies that provide protection against cholera infection. Vaxchora cannot cause cholera, but prepares the immune system for a future encounter with the bacteria. This protection against cholera diarrhea can be expected roughly one week after administration.
Who Should Get The Cholera Vaccine, What's The Dose and How Long Prior To Departure Should Travelers Get Vaccinated?
The vaccine is indicated for adults and children aged 2 years to 64 years of age who are traveling to areas where cholera is endemic or where cholera outbreaks are occurring (i.e. Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East). Vaxchora is taken as a single oral dose at least 10 days prior to exposure to ensure adequate immunity. It should be spaced by at least an hour from food in order to be most effective.
What Are Vaxchora's Side Effects and Drug Interactions?
The most common side effects of Vaxchora include fatigue, headache, nausea/vomiting abdominal pain and lack of appetite. Vaccine-associated diarrhea is also a possibility, but is generally mild and resolves on it's own within a few days.
There are a few important drug interactions related to other preventative travel medications to be aware of. For those looking to take chloroquine for antimalarial prophylaxis, Vaxchora should be administered at least 10 days prior to starting chloroquine. The administration of Vaxchora may affect the gastrointestinal transit of Vivotif capsules (used to prevent Typhoid) and as such should be spaced by two hours. Vaxchora should not be given to patients who have received oral or parenteral antibiotics within the previous 14 days and oral or parenteral antibiotics should be avoided for 10 days following vaccination with Vaxchora.
Additional Preventive Measures
Although Vaxchora provides protection, it is not a substitute for good hygiene practices and other preventive measures. Other practices to keep in mind while traveling:
Drink only bottled or treated water.
Avoid street food or undercooked meals.
When eating fruits/vegetables lean towards those where the skin can be peeled.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer when soap is not available.
There you have it, a brief run-down on the single-dose oral vaccine for cholera. Feel free to share your thoughts and don't forget to hit the like button if you like what you read.
Happy reading and safe travels.
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