Vaccination Services - Cholera

Cholera is rare for most travellers, but for some trips, to areas with outbreaks, poor sanitation, or for aid and healthcare work, it is worth considering. The cholera vaccine is unusual among travel vaccines in that it is taken by mouth, not as an injection.

What is cholera, and the vaccine?

Cholera is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water and food, causing severe watery diarrhoea that can lead to dangerous dehydration very quickly. It is associated with areas lacking safe water and sanitation, and with outbreaks following disasters. The cholera vaccine is an oral vaccine (a drink), given as a short course of doses, that reduces your risk. One brand also offers some short-term protection against a common cause of travellers’ diarrhoea, which the pharmacist can explain.

Who is it for?

The cholera vaccine is not needed for most travellers. It is considered for:

• travellers to areas with current cholera outbreaks or high risk, especially with limited access to safe water and medical care;
• aid workers, healthcare workers, and volunteers working in affected or disaster-hit areas;
• people at higher risk who will be in basic conditions for extended periods.

For typical tourist travel, careful food and water hygiene is usually the main protection, and the vaccine is reserved for higher-risk situations. A pharmacist or travel clinic can assess whether your specific trip warrants it. It is a private (paid) travel vaccine.

Getting it at a pharmacy

As part of travel health services, a pharmacist can advise whether cholera vaccination suits your trip and provide the oral vaccine course, explaining how to take the doses correctly (there are timing rules, including spacing from food and other oral medicines or vaccines). They will record it and factor it in with your other travel vaccines. Because it is a course taken over days, plan ahead of departure.

Food and water care is essential

The cholera vaccine is only part of the picture and does not replace safe food and water practices, which protect against cholera and the many other gut infections travellers can catch: drink safe water, avoid ice and risky foods, and wash or sanitise hands. Just as important, know how to manage dehydration: carry oral rehydration salts and seek medical care for severe or persistent diarrhoea, which can become dangerous quickly. A pharmacist can put together a travel kit.

Safety

The oral cholera vaccine has a good safety record, with mild side effects such as mild gut upset being most common. Tell the pharmacist about severe allergies, past reactions, pregnancy, a weakened immune system, or any current gut illness.

How it’s regulated in Australia

The cholera vaccine is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and is a private travel vaccine. Pharmacists provide and advise on it under state and territory rules and record it on the Australian Immunisation Register where applicable, guided by the Australian Immunisation Handbook and Smartraveller travel advice.

Official sources

• Healthdirect: cholera
• Smartraveller: before you go (health)

For higher-risk trips, ask whether cholera vaccination is right for you. Use the button below to find a pharmacy offering cholera vaccination and travel health near you.