Cholera Vaccine

When travelling to high-risk areas, there are several important steps you can take to minimise the chances of contracting cholera:

1. Practise good hygiene: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap, especially before preparing food or beverages.
2. Avoid tap water: Refrain from drinking water from unknown sources. It’s safer to rely on bottled or boiled water for consumption.
3. Dental hygiene: Brush your teeth using boiled or bottled water to avoid any potential contamination.
4. Proper food preparation: Exercise caution with uncooked vegetables. Ensure they are thoroughly washed and prepared before consumption.
5. Ice and seafood: Avoid consuming ice in your drinks and be cautious when consuming seafood or shellfish.

While the cholera vaccine is generally safe, there are certain considerations to keep in mind:

• Children under two years old should not receive the vaccine.
• Side effects are rare, but some individuals may experience headaches, fever, or digestive problems. These symptoms typically occur in approximately one in 100 patients and severe reactions remain extremely rare.