Oral Cholera Vaccine O1 and O139: Schedule and Precautions

Indications

Prevention of cholera in epidemic, endemic, or humanitarian emergency contexts.

Composition, forms, route of administration

• Inactivated whole-cell bivalent vaccine containing Vibrio cholerae O1, serotypes Inaba and Ogawa, biotypes classical and El Tor, and Vibrio cholerae O139.
• Oral suspension, 1.5 ml in a monodose plastic tube.
• Do not administer by parenteral route.

Dose and vaccination schedule

For young children, the contents of the vial can be drawn up in a syringe and squirted into the mouth.

• Child 1 year and over and adult: 2 doses of 1.5 ml administered at least 14 days apart.
• In certain contexts such as outbreaks with limited vaccine supply, a single dose of 1.5 ml is administered.
• Shake the vial and squirt the entire contents into the mouth.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• Do not administer to children less than one year.
• Do not administer in the event of hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine or history of allergic reaction to a previous dose.
• Vaccination should be postponed in the event of severe acute febrile illness; minor infections are not contra-indications.
• May cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhoea.
• Drinking water after swallowing the vaccine may reduce its unpleasant taste and prevent vomiting.
• If the patient vomits the vaccine dose, wait 10 minutes and re-administer the same dose, followed by a larger volume of water.
• Pregnancy: can be administered because the benefits outweigh the risks.
• Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
• Immunity develops one week after administration and lasts up to 6 months after a single dose and at least 3 years after 2 doses.