Cholera Vaccine: What You Need to Know

Why get vaccinated?

Cholera vaccine can prevent cholera.

Cholera is spread through contaminated food or water. It is not usually spread directly from person to person, but it can be spread through contact with the feces of an infected person. Cholera causes severe diarrhea and vomiting. If it isn’t treated quickly, it can lead to dehydration and even death.

Cholera is a risk mostly to people traveling to countries where the disease is common (Americas including Hispaniola, parts of Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia). While it is rare in the United States, cholera has also occurred among people eating raw or undercooked seafood from the Gulf Coast.

Besides being vaccinated, it is important to follow these five basic steps if you are going to an area where cholera is present:

Drink and use safe water.
Wash your hands often with soap and safe water.
Use toilets when possible. If toilets are not available, bury feces at least 100 feet away from any body of water, including wells.
Peel raw fruits and vegetables and cook other food thoroughly.
Clean up safely. Thoroughly clean toilets and other surfaces that might be contaminated with feces.

Cholera Vaccine

The cholera vaccine used in the United States is an oral (swallowed) vaccine. Only one dose is needed. Booster doses are not recommended.

Most travelers do not need cholera vaccine. Cholera vaccine is recommended for people 2 through 64 years of age who are traveling to an area where people are getting infected with cholera.

Cholera vaccine is not 100% effective against cholera and does not protect from other foodborne or waterborne diseases. Cholera vaccine is not a substitute for being careful about what you eat or drink.

Cholera vaccine is a live, attenuated (weakened) vaccine that can be shed in stool for at least 7 days. Following cholera vaccination, always wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing or handling food.

Talk with your health care provider

Tell your vaccine provider if the person getting the vaccine:

Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of cholera vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies.
Is pregnant or thinks she might be pregnant.
Has a weakened immune system or has close contacts (e.g., household contacts) with a weakened immune system.
Has recently taken antibiotics.
Is taking oral typhoid vaccine.
Is taking anti-malaria drugs or plans to start taking them in the next 10 days.

In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone cholera vaccination to a future visit.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting cholera vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more information.

Information about Cholera Vaccine: What You Need to Know

Risks of a vaccine reaction

Tiredness, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, and diarrhea can happen after cholera vaccine.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

What if there is a serious problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your health care provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at www.vaers.hhs.gov at www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff do not give medical advice.

How can I learn more?

Ask your health care provider.
Call your local or state health department.
Visit the website of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for vaccine package inserts and additional information at www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines.
Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or
- Visit CDC’s cholera website at www.cdc.gov/cholera

Vaccine Information Statement

Cholera Vaccine

1/31/2025

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Many Vaccine Information Statements are available in Spanish and other languages. See www.immunize.org/vis.

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están disponibles en español y en muchos otros idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of UseTerms of Use. Learn how we develop our contenthow we develop our content.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

Page Footer

Quiero...

Audiencia

Sitios seguros para miembros

Información sobre The Cigna Group

Aviso legal

Los planes individuales y familiares de seguro médico y dental están asegurados por Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc. y Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Los planes de beneficios de salud y de seguro de salud de grupo están asegurados o administrados por CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC) o sus afiliadas (puedes ver un listado de las entidades legales un listado de las entidades legales que aseguran o administran HMO para grupos, HMO dentales y otros productos o servicios en tu estado). Los planes o pólizas de seguro para lesiones accidentales, enfermedades críticas y cuidado hospitalario son distribuidos exclusivamente por o a través de subsidiarias operativas de Cigna Corporation, son administrados por Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company y están asegurados por (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT), (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA) o (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), anteriormente llamada Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. El nombre Cigna, el logotipo y otras marcas de Cigna son propiedad de Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA y NYLGICNY no son afiliadas de Cigna.

Todas las pólizas de seguros y los planes de beneficios de grupo contienen exclusiones y limitaciones. Para conocer la disponibilidad, los costos y detalles completos de la cobertura, comunícate con un agente autorizado o con un representante de ventas de Cigna. Este sitio web no está dirigido a los residentes de New Mexico.

Al seleccionar estos enlaces saldrás de Cigna.com hacia otro sitio web que podría no ser un sitio web de Cigna. Cigna no puede controlar el contenido ni los enlaces de sitios web que no son de Cigna. Detalles Detalles