Comprehensive medication guide to Vaxchora including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0-$402 depending on plan; sometimes covered as a medical benefit under HCPCS code 90625 — not as a pharmacy benefit. Coverage varies significantly; Medicare Part D generally does not cover Vaxchora.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$296-$402 retail for a single dose at travel health clinics; as low as $299.99 with a GoodRx coupon or $305.33 with SingleCare at participating locations.
Medfinder Findability Score
40/100
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Vaxchora (cholera vaccine, live, oral) is the only FDA-approved cholera vaccine in the United States. It is manufactured by Bavarian Nordic A/S and approved for active immunization against cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 in persons ages 2 through 64 who are traveling to cholera-affected areas.
Vaxchora was first approved by the FDA in June 2016 for adults ages 18–64. In December 2020, the FDA expanded approval to include children ages 2–17. It is a live-attenuated oral vaccine — meaning it contains a living but weakened (CVD 103-HgR) strain of V. cholerae that trains the immune system without causing the disease.
Unlike most vaccines, Vaxchora is not injected. It is taken as a single oral dose — a liquid consumed in a supervised healthcare setting — at least 10 days before potential cholera exposure. In a controlled challenge study, Vaxchora demonstrated 90.3% efficacy against moderate to severe diarrhea at 10 days post-vaccination and approximately 80% efficacy at 3 months.
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Vaxchora contains the CVD 103-HgR strain of Vibrio cholerae — a live but genetically modified bacterium with the cholera toxin genes (ctxAB) deleted. This means it can colonize the small intestine briefly without producing the toxin that causes severe diarrhea.
When swallowed, the bicarbonate buffer in the Vaxchora preparation neutralizes stomach acid, allowing the live bacteria to reach the small intestine intact. There, the vaccine strain colonizes briefly, triggering the immune system to produce vibriocidal antibodies and mucosal IgA antibodies — both of which can recognize and neutralize V. cholerae O1 if encountered during real travel exposure.
Because it's a live vaccine that mimics natural infection (minus the toxin), Vaxchora generates both systemic and local (mucosal) immunity — a broader immune response than killed vaccines. It takes at least 10 days post-vaccination for the immune response to reach protective levels. The vaccine strain is shed in stool for at least 7 days post-vaccination.
100 mL — oral suspension
Single oral dose for adults and children ages 6-64
50 mL — oral suspension
Single oral dose for children ages 2-5 years
Vaxchora is not currently in an FDA drug shortage, but it is consistently difficult to find at standard retail pharmacies. Chain pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid do not routinely stock it. The vaccine is distributed primarily through travel health clinic channels, not standard pharmacy wholesalers.
Vaxchora is most reliably available at travel medicine clinics (Passport Health, e7 Health, ISTM-affiliated practices), hospital travel medicine departments, and some specialty pharmacies. Finding it requires research and planning ahead — begin your search at least 3–4 weeks before your departure date, as the vaccine must be given at least 10 days before potential cholera exposure.
Use medfinder to find pharmacies and travel clinics near you that have Vaxchora in stock — saving you hours of phone calls and ensuring you can get vaccinated before your trip.
Vaxchora is a prescription vaccine, not a controlled substance. Any licensed prescriber can recommend and prescribe it without special DEA registration requirements. However, because it must be administered in a supervised clinical setting with appropriate cold storage, it is most practically dispensed through travel medicine clinics and healthcare facilities that are equipped to handle live vaccines.
Common prescriber types for Vaxchora:
Some telehealth travel medicine platforms can assess travel health needs and issue a Vaxchora prescription remotely, though the vaccine itself must still be administered in person at a travel clinic or healthcare facility with appropriate cold storage and clinical supervision.
No. Vaxchora is not a controlled substance. It carries no DEA scheduling, has no abuse potential, and requires no special DEA registration or prescribing restrictions beyond a standard prescription. Any licensed prescriber — including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — can write a prescription for Vaxchora without controlled substance limitations.
Vaxchora is a prescription vaccine because it requires clinical supervision for administration (proper preparation, supervision for allergic reaction, and appropriate cold storage), not because of any abuse or diversion risk.
Side effects in adults (most common, within 7 days):
Serious side effects (rare — seek immediate care if they occur):
Note: The vaccine strain is shed in stool for at least 7 days post-vaccination. Wash hands thoroughly after bathroom use and before food handling for 14 days.
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Dukoral
Oral killed cholera vaccine available in Canada, UK, Australia, and Europe. Requires 2 doses. Not FDA-approved for use in the US. Also provides some protection against E. coli traveler's diarrhea.
Shanchol
WHO-prequalified bivalent oral killed cholera vaccine used in mass vaccination campaigns in endemic countries. Not available commercially to US travelers.
Euvichol-Plus
WHO-prequalified bivalent oral killed cholera vaccine. Used for public health outbreak response internationally. Not available to US travelers through commercial channels.
Safe Food and Water Precautions
Not a vaccine but an essential protective strategy for all travelers to cholera-affected areas: drink only sealed bottled or boiled water, avoid raw or undercooked seafood, and practice thorough hand hygiene.
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Systemic Antibiotics (doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, etc.)
majorDo not administer Vaxchora within 14 days of oral or parenteral antibiotic use. Antibiotics active against V. cholerae will kill the vaccine strain before the immune system can respond, rendering the vaccine ineffective. Avoid antibiotics for 10 days after vaccination.
Chloroquine
moderateMay diminish the immune response to Vaxchora. Administer Vaxchora at least 10 days before initiating chloroquine prophylaxis.
Immunosuppressive Medications (corticosteroids, biologics, antimetabolites, chemotherapy)
majorImmunosuppressives reduce vaccine efficacy and may pose safety risks with live vaccines. Generally avoid live vaccines for at least 3 months after stopping high-dose immunosuppressives.
Typhoid Vaccine Ty21a (Vivotif)
minorThe bicarbonate buffer in Vaxchora may interfere with the transit of Ty21a capsules. Separate administration by at least 2 hours.
Vaxchora is a highly effective, single-dose oral vaccine that offers the strongest available protection against cholera for US travelers. With 90.3% efficacy at 10 days and no daily pill regimen required, it's one of the most convenient pre-travel vaccines available. Its main drawback is accessibility — it's simply not stocked at most pharmacies and requires advance planning to obtain.
If you're traveling to a cholera-affected area, don't wait until the last minute. Start your search at least 3–4 weeks before departure, ensure you receive the vaccine at least 10 days before potential exposure, and continue safe food and water practices even after vaccination.
Struggling to find Vaxchora? medfinder contacts pharmacies and travel clinics near you on your behalf, texting you back with results so you can book an appointment without the exhausting phone-call runaround.
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