The Basics
What is Cholera Vaccine?
Prevents severe or life-threatening cholera, but it is not 100% effective against cholera and does not protect from other foodborne or waterborne diseases.
Brand names for Cholera Vaccine
Cholera Vaccine
How Cholera Vaccine is classified
Vaccines
Cholera Vaccine During Pregnancy
Cholera Vaccine pregnancy category
Category CNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.
What we know about taking Cholera Vaccine while pregnant
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with cholera vaccine. It is also not known whether cholera vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. However, as with other inactivated bacterial vaccines, its use is not contraindicated during pregnancy unless the intended recipient has manifested significant systemic or allergic reaction following administration of prior doses. Use of cholera vaccine during pregnancy should be individualized to reflect actual need. 1,3
Taking Cholera Vaccine While Breastfeeding
What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Cholera Vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several health professional organizations state that vaccines given to a nursing mother do not affect the safety of breastfeeding for mothers or infants and that breastfeeding is not a contraindication to cholera vaccine. Breastfed infants should be vaccinated according to the routine recommended schedules.[1][2][3]
Maternal / infant drug levels
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several health professional organizations state that vaccines given to a nursing mother do not affect the safety of breastfeeding for mothers or infants and that breastfeeding is not a contraindication to cholera vaccine. Breastfed infants should be vaccinated according to the routine recommended schedules.[1][2][3]
Possible effects of Cholera Vaccine on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Possible alternatives to Cholera Vaccine
None listed
List of References
Lactation sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/1. General recommendations on immunization — recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2011;60 (RR-2):1-64. PMID: 21293327
2. Gruslin A, Steben M, Halperin S et al. Immunization in pregnancy: No. 220, December 2008. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009;105:187-91. PMID: 19367691
3. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, Kimberlin DW, Brady MT et al. Red Book: 2015 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 30th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. 2015.
4. Pabst HF. Immunomodulation by breast-feeding. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1997;16:991-5. PMID: 9380478
5. Merson MH, Black RE, Sack DA et al. Maternal cholera immunisation and secretory IgA in breast milk. Lancet. 1980;1:931-2. Letter. PMID: 6103281
6. Svennerholm A-M, Holmgren J, Hanson LA et al. Boosting of secretory IgA antibody responses in man by parenteral cholera vaccination. Scand J Immunol. 1977;6:1345-9. PMID: 605366
7. Jertborn M, Svennerholm AM, Holmgren J. Saliva, breast milk, and serum antibody responses as indirect measures of intestinal immunity after oral cholera vaccination or natural disease. J Clin Microbiol. 1986;24:203-9. PMID: 3528211
8. Clemens JD, Sack DA, Chakraborty J et al. Field trial of oral cholera vaccines in Bangladesh: evaluation of anti-bacterial and anti-toxic breast-milk immunity in response to ingestion of the vaccines. Vaccine. 1990;8:469-72. PMID: 2251873
9. Ahmed T, Svennerholm AM, Al Tarique A et al. Enhanced immunogenicity of an oral inactivated cholera vaccine in infants in Bangladesh obtained by zinc supplementation and by temporary withholding breast-feeding. Vaccine. 2009;27:1433-9. PMID: 19146904
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
