Cholera Vaccination
Understanding the Cholera Vaccine: Importance in Travel
Are you planning a trip to a country where cholera is prevalent? Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the cholera vaccine at VSM Pharmacy’s travel clinic. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of the cholera vaccine, the countries where cholera is endemic, and why VSM Pharmacy is the best choice for your travel health needs.
Cholera Vaccination: Key Facts
- The cholera vaccine is given orally as a drink.
- The oral cholera vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) is called Dukoral.
- This vaccines require two doses, given at least one week apart, to provide full protection.
- The cholera vaccine is approved for use in individuals as young as 2 years old, making it crucial for protecting children travelling to cholera-endemic regions.
- The vaccine can provide protection for up to 2 years.
- In addition to vaccination, it is important to follow other cholera prevention measures, such as avoiding contaminated food and water, during travel to affected areas.
What is Cholera?
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It can lead to severe dehydration and, if left untreated, can be fatal. Cholera is primarily transmitted through contaminated food or water, making it a significant concern for travellers visiting areas with poor sanitation or limited access to clean water.
The Importance of the Cholera Vaccine
The cholera vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from this potentially deadly disease. By getting vaccinated, you can significantly reduce your risk of contracting cholera while travelling to affected regions. The vaccine is particularly crucial for individuals who are at higher risk, such as those with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions.
Can you vaccinate a child?
Yes, the cholera vaccine is approved for children as young as 2 years old. It’s essential to ensure that children travelling to cholera-endemic regions are vaccinated to protect them from this serious illness.
When do I need to get vaccinated?
To be fully protected, it’s recommended to start the cholera vaccine regimen at least 10 days before travelling to a cholera-endemic region. The vaccine requires two doses, given at least one week apart. It’s crucial to complete the full vaccine series to ensure optimal protection against cholera.
How long does immunity last?
The duration of protection provided by the cholera vaccine can vary. Studies have shown that the vaccine can provide homologous protective immunity as soon as 8 days after vaccination and protection can persist for at least 6 months[1]. However, it is unknown how long protection lasts beyond 3-6 months after vaccination[4]. Significant immune protection has been observed to last for at least 2 years after either a clinical cholera episode or effective oral cholera vaccine immunisation[5].
Countries Where Cholera is Endemic
Cholera is endemic in many parts of the world, particularly in areas with limited access to clean water and proper sanitation. Some of the countries where cholera is most prevalent include:
- Africa: Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
- Asia: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Yemen.
- Latin America: Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
For an up-to-date list of countries where cholera is currently present please visit Fit for Travel or Travel Health Pro.
Why Choose VSM Pharmacy’s Travel Clinic?
VSM Pharmacy’s travel clinic is staffed by experienced healthcare professionals who specialise in travel medicine. We offer a wide range of services, including:
- Cholera vaccine administration
- Personalised travel health consultations
- Advice on disease prevention and risk reduction
- Prescriptions for travel-related medications (if needed)
Our clinic is conveniently located in Camberley, Surrey, and offers flexible appointment times to accommodate your busy schedule. We are committed to providing high-quality care and ensuring that you have a safe and healthy travel experience.
Conclusion
Don’t let cholera ruin your travel plans. Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the cholera vaccine at VSM Pharmacy’s travel clinic. Our experienced healthcare professionals are dedicated to helping you stay healthy while exploring the world. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and start your journey with peace of mind.
Citations:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1527420/
[2] https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0006257
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7102a1.htm
[4] https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/vaccines.html
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128119242000316
How does the travel clinic service work?
Begin your journey to a safer travel experience by filling out our simple online form. Schedule your visit at your convenience.
Your vaccinations' schedule will be established and administered with care by our clinicians. Depending on the vaccines you need, you may need to come back to finish the course.
That's it! You are ready to enjoy your trip with complete peace of mind.
Bon voyage!
Safe travel!
What do our customers say?
My mother had a skin tag on her face which used to sometimes catch on clothes and bleed, and was generally unsightly. She asked her GP who said as it wasnt cancerous they would not remove it, and recommended she look for private removal.The local private hospital wanted to charge over £800 ( for a pre 'operation' assessment, the operation, and the follow up appointment ).I saw VSM advertised and we thought we would try it.The pharmacist looked at the skin tag and said yes it was suitable for cryotherapy. She cleaned my mothers face, and 'sprayed' the skin tag twice. She said it should drop off in about a week.After a week, the skin tag has now completely gone, a slight pink mark where it was, and I am sure that will heal in the coming weeks.This was all painless, straight forward, professional and for less than 10% of the cost of the private hospital.We are all delighted with how easy it all was, and would recommend VSM to anyone wondering if they need a skin tag or mole removing. Thank you
We had a really positive experience getting travel vaccinations at this pharmacy. Fast, efficient and friendly service and reasonably priced too.
Very knowledgeable and professional service. Had some cryo work done. Pain free. Would highly recommended. Many thanks.
Attended here for a yellow fever vaccine for an upcoming trip to Kenya, great service, friendly staff, highly recommended!
Knowledgable and caring service provided to my son. Would fully recommend their cryotherapy service to anyone.
Excellent and efficient service. I had one mole treated first just to see the results. Personally, I had no problems at all and the mole came of itself after the suggested time frame. Cryotherapy for me is the best option for mole removal. Highly recommend.
Cryotherapy - moles on face. Very easy booking system, very good price and excellent service when I visited VSM Pharmacy. Jirina was so nice and helpful, really good experience and very happy to recommend
I enjoyed an on time appointment and the experience was seamless and professionally done I would certainly go their again
I have 2 moles under my armpit that are making my life a miserable. Extremely itchy and sore. Unable to use deodorant, as it irritates it. I spoke to the lovely pharmacist assistant and she told me how to book it online. Nikki. I also spoke to the lovely boss, Jarina. Communication was outstanding. I had the treatment today, which was painless.Looking forward to not scratching any more and to be able to use deodorant, without irritation. Wish I had done this years ago.Thank you so much. This will make my life so much better. Thanks to all at VSM Frimley.Keep up the good work.
I needed a small freezing treatment and it was done with professionalism, warmth and compassion. Very good service indeed
Excellent customer service. Clean well organised friendly pharmacy. Received jabs with no issues at all. I recommend 👌
First visit to this pharmacy when I attended for allergy testing. The lady who dealt with me explained the process clearly. Nice pharmacy which appears to offer many services. Quite busy when I was there, friendly staff and clearly knew many of their customers well. Street Parking outside free for 1hour or there is a carpark close by with free parking for the first 30 minutes. Just remember to register your vehicle and get a ticket.
Had cryotherapy today on my face and the lady was very efficient and explained the treatment and what to expect afterwards.
Travel vaccination service was great: easy to book, smooth consultation and quick follow-up. Jirina very good administering injections to my teenage daughter.
The pharmacist was lovely and helped us with our travel Vaccines very efficient and quick
Perfect: appointment, treatment and staff all great. Will go for more treatment if required.Appointment was easy to book online with an automated reminder. Great!
Professional, knowledgeable, polite and efficient vaccinations. Thanks 😎
Nicky..was very professional and made me at ease from filling out the paperwork and freezing my skin tags.There is also an aftercare where you can contact with any questions. Thank you Nicky. for all your advice 100% Happy New yearKind regardsMark...
Jirina was a brilliant. She helped me solve the problem which has bothered me for weeks.
The lady (sorry, we didn’t know her name) who did my ears was lovely. Excellent job done. Thank you and merry Christmas.
Jirina and the VSM Pharmacy team are fabulous. Booked us in really quickly to get last minute travel vaccinations, charged us a very reasonable rate, and had lots of appointments available. Jirina was very kind & reassuring!
Had my annual Flu Jab today. Quick, easy and lovely staff, plus simple online booking. plenty of free parking on the road too. Will go here for all vaccinations in the future. Thank you
Brilliant service , hope my treatment works , find out in a couple of weeks . Lovely young lady attended me . Highly recommend
Very helpful consultation experience. Appropriate vaccinations discussed and options covered in detail. All very reassuring and no suggestion of any unnecessary treatment.
So lovely to have a community pharmacist that takes good care of me. The girls are always friendly and helpful. Many thanks!
I visited VSM Pharmacy today.Removal of small amounts of wax from both ears.The level of service was excellent.
Cryotherapy appointment with Jirina. Pharmacy has a semi-private treatment room. No hesitation in recommending. Lovely lady. Utmost care and detailed explanation. Not painful. Will go back for assessment.
Good friendly service. Great help with which vaccines I needed for all my travels
Visited today for travel vaccinations for myself and my son. My son is severely needle phobic and Jirina was so patient and understanding. He's so proud of himself for managing to have them done and Jirina was quick and professional which gave him the confidence needed. Would recommend to anyone needing travel vaccinations, lots of great information shared too.
Very helpful and after a few visits for ear microsuction (all included in the initial price) they cleared my ears of wax and now I can hear again.
first time using their flu jab service. Excellent. Booked and paid online. Will be back next year!
Very professional and thorough. Identified problem and put plan in place to fix. I would recommend.
Visited the pharmacy for a blood pressure test.The pharmacist was very helpful and reassurin
Great service and staff who are very friendly and helpful! Recommend them always.
Professional, friendly service. Easy to book and amazing value. Cryotherapy was less than half the price of what is offered elsewhere.
I have been visiting this pharmacy for years and they are the most helpful, welcoming group of staff I’ve ever met. They go out of their way to help me with my boys medication. Thank you so much Jirina and the team. I hope you see this review because you make my life easier and brighter.
Had my flu jab today. Easy booking system, on time and all questions answered in full. This is a brilliant Chemist, was recommended by my doctor years ago and have never regretted using them. Lovely staff. Thankyou.
Jirina very helpful and very gentle with administering the vaccines. 😉 Thank you very much
The staff are so friendly and helpful. They look after their customers like family. Wouldn't change to any other pharmacy. Absolutely love them.
Went for ear wax removal today, which was exactly on time and the procedure was excellently executed. Would recommend.
Excellent service from start to finish. Professional, informative and helpful. Highly recommended.
I have to say that Mac made us very welcome. She explained everything to us. She did the treatment there and then I was very satisfied with the whole experience and would recommend this treatment
I had my ear cleaned for wax at VSM-Promptly served-I was clearly explained that I did not need to do both ears, as one was very clean (a photograph was shown to me where I could see my left ear's ear drum)-The lady was thorough and showed me the 'after' pictures of my right ear once she had finishedI thoroughly recommend using VSM Pharmacy for getting your ears cleaned of waxIf I had to really nit pick, I would suggest that the email which is sent out as confirmation of booking could include a recommendation on using some ear drops to soften the wax for easy cleaning, before the appointment. I was luckily not affected, and my wax came out easy.
Very good and very quick. Booked my flue jab and arrived at the designated time, in and out in no time.
Very helpful, quick and polite service will always use them if I need anything
Excellent service!Couldn’t feel a thing when the needle went through my arm 👏
I booked a COVID vaccination for the same day and managed to nip in and be back before work noticed I had left. So an efficient and friendly job by the pharmacy, thanks.
Jirina was great.I was in and out very quickly and the best thing is..... I CAN HEAR AGAIN.Hopefully I won't need it again but if I do I'd definitely return here.
Nice peopleHighly recommend flue jab done for another year great service
Having attended our booked appointments at YSM Pharmacy, Camberley for Flu Vaccintation at 0900 this morning, we would like to report our delight and thanks for the experience. Staff member Julie was most proffesional in all she did, beforehand, during and after administrating the jabs.In fact, we agree that from now on, the lady deserves to be respectfully referred to as "Jabber Julie".Yours, Sylvia & Richard Manning.
As always with VSM, the service was promptly, friendly and efficient. I would dream of going anywhere else for my annual flu jabs and filling prescriptions.
Absolutely fab pharmacy. Had flu jab today. Very quick and painless. Staff were great. Highly recommended.
We were delighted to visit this pharmacy for the first time to find it such a well set out and sparkling clean place. It is clear a lot of pride goes in to the business and the staff are a credit to the store too. Thank you for your excellent care and impeccable store.Christina
Order a last minute vaccination (very last minute) online and the whole process was a dream.Want to say a huge thank you for all your help Jirina with the whole process.Thanks to all at VSM Pharmacy.Highly recommend this company.☺️
Had a allergy test today by a delightful young lady. Informed me of everything I wanted to know. I would definitely recommend this chemist.
Kirina was wonderful! Professional and very knowledgeable.I would recommend without hesitation
Very professional and helpful. Same as previous visit. Polite and friendly.
Got an appointment very quickly for ear wax removal and the lady who performed the micro suction was lovely and really informative.
Quick and friendly service for cryotherapy. Highly recommended. Many thanks.
Amazing service every time I’ve been to VSM pharmacy. They go above and beyond. I have been to three other pharmacies with bad experiences and regular stocking or ordering issues but with VSM they have been a delight and beyond my expectations every time! Thank you
Excellent service and a very pleasant experience. Would definitely go back if I need to.
Great experience ear wax removal great lady explained everything and gave great advice on keeping ears healthy 5 stars will definitely recommend
I had ear wax removal treatment. I was briefed on procedure beforehand and the actual procedure was painless and successful. An excellent service front VSM Pharmacy.
The lady who examined both my ears and cleared one ear gave me a detailed description of what she was doing and I left feeling very confident. Thank you.
This is a great independent pharmacy. I was recommended here by my GP in Bracknell in August 2024 where I was suffering with hearing loss and ear pressure. I went for micro suction for ear wax removal. The lady was very helpful and professional and the equipment really good. She could take a clear colour photo of the inside of my ear which was amazing.The other staff I spoke to were also friendly and professional.In November after I had a cold during a holiday I suffered painful ear pressure on the return flight. As the symptons were similar to those in August I went back to VSM. They confirmed there was very little wax in the ear and that it was simply my cold giving me ear pressure problems. Instead of having the pay the full fee for cleaning they just charged me a nominal check up fee which I appreciated.Overall I would highly recommend them.
Super friendly, efficient and knowledgeable pharmacy. Been around for decades. Won’t use anyone else.
I went hear for a micro suction appointment on my blocked ear! The lady who was looking after me was so thorough. She showed me pictures of my ear, explained what led to the problem and then discussed my aftercare. All for a reasonable price too. Thank you
Very friendly staff, Nicki explained everything really well and everything was done efficiently. Thank you
I had an allergy test this morning.Staff were very pleasant and understanding.
Excellent customer service. Had our travel vaccine done at the pharmacy and whole experience was wonderful. The pharmacist is very friendly, kind and accommodating.
Honestly the experience was not great for allergy testing. The expectations that we would have results within one week took a few days longer. However the report was sent over with no sympathy or regard to the results. It was emailed with no explanation or phone call and the follow up phone call two days afterwards after I had to chase for it left me with so many questions. This is not a place I would recommend for allergy testing. The advice and follow up left me with so many questions unanswered and to refer to a specialist for further testing. I really wouldn’t recommend it. It was an expensive test left with so many questions…don’t waste your money and pay for the real thing
One Cryotherapy treatment worked like a charm for me. Although the treatment itself wasn't pleasant but quite necessary. And everyone was kind and pleasant. Would definitely recommend.
A quick, fast and painless treatment for the removal of 5 skin tags this morning, would definitely recommend VSM Pharmacy
Very easy to book and the procedure worked well for me. Solved my ear blockage on the first visit in 5 minutes.
I went for a consultation and removal of moles. I thought it was excellent value and had many moles removed for less than £30/-. One mole was of a different type and I was told to go to my GP as soon as possible for further evaluation. Excellent no nonsense service.
Pharmacist very knowledgeable, understanding and kind. Great service, no wait time as booked appointment.
Came in for TBE vaccines before a trip, 2 adults and 2 kids. Everything was very quick and easy and the kids were very happy with their lollipops after for being so brave.
I would highly recommend VSM to anyone looking for help with their ears; I had an appointment with Julie and she was very thorough and careful. She was ultimately able to put my mind at ease for something I was quite nervous about.
Attended VSM today to have a private covid jab. Pharmacist was really friendly & professional. Jab was painless & I would not hesitate to recommend this service. Many Thanks VSM
Great sevice and Very well-oriented griendle staffs. Shout-out to Mac for her assistance and guidance. Highly recommended and will be back again for future procedure. Thank you and Best of Health to everyone!
Excellent service for ear wax removal. Friendly and professional. Highly recommended.
I attended a travel clinic appointment. The staff are so so friendly, I had Jirina who was lovely and very helpful! Got everything I needed very quickly and feel very prepared for my travels 🙂
I found VSM Pharmacy online and not too far from me. I had seen a doctor and was told that my partial deafness in my left ear was due to ear wax but the NHS don’t treat it anymore. You have to pay and have it removed privately.VSM Pharmacy treated my problem professionally and book me in the same day. The lady who treated me was very kind and explained everything completely. I cannot speak too highly for the service I got. I would recommend this place to anyone.
I went today to have 3 moles treated with cryotherapy. The pharmacist who treated me was very knowledgeable and polite. I'll be back for more treatment. 🙂
I attended an appointment for ear wax Microsuction. The service was friendly, professional, punctual and has left me with perfect hearing! Thanks so much!
Wonderful staff, very friendly and handled my Cryotherapy with a lot of care and information, going over everything I needed to know before we proceeded.
Had ear wax removed, did a good job and was polite and friendly the whole time. I can now hear again! Will definitely use again if needed!
Had to have ear wax removal, pharmacist was very good and explained everything to me.would recommend this pharmacy
Super friendly welcome. Had ears syringed and looked after in a professional manner as always.
Visited to have moles/warts on my back assessed, which were very professional and proficiently treated/removed.
Gone to this pharmacy as seen a lot of 5 star reviews and it did not disappoint, Jirina who has seen me for the ear wax removal was amazing, really lovely and very patient, turns out that there wasn't much ear wax in one of my ears, turns out to be a sore ear drum which explains the hearing loss, she explained everything in full detail on how to get it treated and recommended me for one of the ear sprays to calm it down, amazing job, would recommend this place
I had ear wax removed from both ears by micro suction. Would certainly recommend VSM with excellent service and easy online booking system. They show you photos of the inside of the ears both before and after. Having experienced the old system of ear syringing before I can confirm this is a far better process.
Went to have a skin lesion removed very efficient good price fast service
Went for ear wax removal. Friendly place.......the staff are chatty. I had to go twice cos there was too much to remove in one go. No extra charge for the second visit which I thought was good! Good availability with appointments too.....(unlike my GP which had no appointments).I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
Good service. Did have to go back three times in total to clear ears but ear was inflamed so probably why. Friendly staff and like the idea you see the before and after photos using a special camera. Easy to book compared to others and seem to be able to get quick appointments compared to say Specsavers offer. Comparable on price and only pay once until it has been cleared even if you have to return. so that's good.
Jirina did a wonderful job today and cannot recommend her highly enough, many thanks, my world has returned to normal!
Really good service. On the spot treatment with clear explanation of what would take place and after care. Forgot to pay and had to go back (bit embarrassing) other than that! Great experience 5*
Such lovely staff and a very helpful environment. Both my daughter who received wart treatment and I were pleasantly overwhelmed by the kind yet professional service.
Great service and the girls done a fantastic job, bit painful but they certainly put you at ease and made the visit a bit more bearable5stars
Great service very friendly..going back next week for a follow up on the treatment...
Excellent service had my ear wax removed and Nicky was so thorough I couldn’t believe how much she managed to remove. I would definitely recommend going to her.
Just had the 'freezing' of a couple of benign growths on my face. Excellent system with lots of care and advice delivered. Thoroughly recommended,
I recently attended this pharmacy for private allergy testing. When I initially called to find out how to book, the online booking process was clearly explained by the person I spoke to, as was the price. I was able to book an appointment with the pharmacist on the same day. I was seen on time, and the pharmacist clearly explained what the test would involve, how I would receive the results, and how long they would likely take to arrive
Just had both ears waxed. Very good service. I was show photos of my ear drum before and afterwards. Very quick and pain free with no mess. With a follow up next year if I want. Throughly recommend the service if you need ear wax remover.
I had cryotherapy on my face this morning. The service was very quick, very professional and at a very good price. These sorts of services used to be available on the NHS so VSM are a great alternative that I wholeheartedly recommend and I will certainly use again
I got an appointment easily online. Pharmacy staff were so kind and helpful and Jirina diagnosed my problem very clearly. Will definitely return if I need help again. Thank you
I had a consultation with Julie, who was very knowledgeable and professional. I would recommend this service.
Got an appointment to meet my needs. Procedure well explained. Could see the situation before the procedure was carried out, and afterwards, to confirm that the problem was removed. Would be happy to use this service again, should the need arise.
BrilliantNo waiting about, straight in answered a few questions, operation done, out....Just how I like it.
Excellent friendly and efficient Microsuction Ear Wax Removal.Will definitely use the again
The pharmacist was efficient, gentle and reassuring - it was a good experience all round
I was amazed how quick and easy the ear wax was removed. I can hear again. Fantastic. Thank you very much.
Very please with the allergy testing service, lovely lady and very helpful
I booked for a flu vaccination recently and got a really good time slot and on a day that worked for me. When I arrived they were prompt and the Pharmacist that does the injection is so lovely. Highly recommend this pharmacy for anyone needed this type of service.
This pharmacy is outstanding! In an era where customer service is on this decline, this business bucks the trend. Every member of staff is helpful, knowledgeable and goes out of their way to assist their customer. A great team effort!
I’m new to the area so had no clue where to go when I woke up with a blocked ear. After some research I chose this place as it was super easy same day booking for my ear to be suctioned. Great lady who did it who made me feel relaxed. Would recommend to everyone.
I had a cryotherapy appointment. Fast, friendly and professional service.
Even at the busiest times the staff are friendly, informative and very helpful. I've been using the pharmacy for 20+ years and the standards have never dropped from brilliant! I'm very much in favour of local independent retailers and VSM could be used as a flagship for 'the cause'. RJD
Great service for cryotherapy today. So knowledgeable and explained everything perfectly. Can’t comment on results yet but I am confident they will be amazing 🤩
Excellent service provided, I called in to book an appointment to have my Flu injection, the lady on reception asked me to hold on for a moment and when she returned I was told they could do it there and then. I just had to wait a couple of minutes, then all done. i would recommend anyone to go there its just a shame they are not doing the Covid Jab.
Friendly, efficient and professional service. Will certainly use your services again.
Jrini from VSM Pharmacy was extremely professional & reassuring when explaining how the Cryo Therapy would work regarding the removal of a verruca. I half expected to return within the 4-6 period after the treatment for another session, but it was successful first time & am very satisfied & would highly recommend.
Changing my appointment was a breeze. Then the jab in and out like lightening
Booked my Flu vacation online and in the day I was dealt with by very friendly staff, the pharmacist was very bubbly and professional as she always is.
The staff at VSM always take care of my needs and will always go the extra mile to get my medication delivered on time.
We had a great experience using the cryotherapy service at VSM Pharmacy. Everything was explained and made clear.
