Vaxchora, cholera vaccine (recombinant, live, oral)

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
• This vaccine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

1. What Vaxchora is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Vaxchora
3. How to take Vaxchora
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Vaxchora
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you have a weakened immune system, for example, if you were born with a weakened immune system or if you are having treatments such as high-dose corticosteroid treatment, cancer medicines or radiotherapy that can weaken the immune system.

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking Vaxchora.

Contact a doctor immediately if you get the following serious side effects (see also Section 4):

• serious allergic reactions causing swelling of the face or throat, hives, itchy rash, breathlessness and/or a drop in blood pressure and fainting.

If you present any of the following or a combination of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse prior to taking the vaccine. Vaccination should be postponed until after recovery because protection against cholera may be diminished.

Not everyone taking this vaccine will be fully protected against cholera. It is important to continue to follow hygiene advice and take special care with food and water in cholera-affected areas.

This vaccine may be less effective if you have HIV.

Bacteria from the vaccine may be present in your stool for at least 7 days after you take the vaccine. To prevent any contamination, wash your hands thoroughly after visiting the toilet, changing nappies and before preparing food for at least 14 days after you take this vaccine.

Do not give this vaccine to children younger than 2 years of age because it is not known how well it works in this age group.

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines or vaccines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because this vaccine can affect the way some other medicines and vaccines work.

In particular tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking:

• antibiotics - this vaccine may not work if you take it while you are also taking antibiotics. Take this vaccine no earlier than 14 days after the last dose of an antibiotic. Avoid antibiotics for 10 days after taking this vaccine.
• chloroquine for malaria prevention - this vaccine may not work if you take it while you are also taking chloroquine. Take this vaccine at least 10 days before starting chloroquine or 14 days after taking chloroquine.
• the typhoid vaccine Ty21a - this vaccine may not work if it is taken at the same time as Ty21a. You should take this vaccine at least 2 hours before or after taking Ty21a.

If any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking this vaccine.

You must not eat or drink for 60 minutes before and after taking this vaccine as this may reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Vaxchora vaccine has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, some of the effects mentioned under section 4 “Possible side effects” may temporarily affect the ability to drive or use machines. Do not drive or use machines if you are feeling unwell after vaccination.

If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

This vaccine contains 863 mg of sodium (the main component of cooking/table salt) per dose. This is equivalent to 43% of the recommended daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult. Please take this into account if you are on a controlled sodium diet.

PREPARE THIS VACCINE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THIS LEAFLET

Please read the following before you begin:

Vaxchora may not work if the following occurs:

• Incorrect storage; the vaccine must be stored in the refrigerator (2°C - 8°C).
• Using the incorrect amount of water; 100 mL must be used.
• Using the incorrect type of water; bottled water that is cold or room temperature and noncarbonated or carbonated must be used.
• Mixing the sachets in the wrong order; sachet 1 must be added to the water first. If the sachets are mixed in the wrong order you must discard the vaccine and request a replacement dose.
• Eating or drinking; must be avoided 60 minutes before and after taking the vaccine, eating or drinking can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Do not touch your eyes when you prepare the vaccine to avoid contamination.

If any powder or liquid gets spilt, clean the surface with hot water and soap or an antibacterial disinfectant.

If there is a significant spill (more than a few drops of liquid or grains of powder), dispose of the vaccine and get a new one from your doctor or pharmacist; DO NOT take the remaining medication.

Step 1

Gather materials:

• Clean cup
• Utensil to stir
• Bottled water (non-carbonated or carbonated, cold or room temperature, 25°C or less)
• Item to measure 100 mL of bottled water (e.g. measuring jug)
• Scissors

Step 2

Remove the vaccine from the refrigerator.

Step 3

Locate the two sachets: the sachets are labelled 1 and 2.

Sachet 1 contains “Vaxchora Buffer” and is black and white. Sachet 2 contains “Vaxchora Active ingredient” and is blue and white.

If a sachet is not intact, do not use either sachet and contact your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about acquiring a replacement dose; using a sachet that is not intact can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Step 4

Measure 100 mL of bottled cold or room temperature non-carbonated or carbonated water and pour into a clean cup.

Using bottled water is necessary for the vaccine to be effective - using non-bottled (e.g. tap water) may render the vaccine ineffective.

Step 5

Use scissors to cut off the top of sachet 1.

Do not put your fingers into the sachet. Wash your hands if you touch the sachet contents, in order to reduce the chance of contamination.

Step 6

Empty the contents of sachet 1 into the water in the cup. It will fizz.

Step 7

Stir until the powder completely dissolves.

Step 8

For children age 2 to <6 years only:

Pour away and discard half of the buffer solution. (Note: For children over 6 years and adults this step is NOT required)

Step 9

Use scissors to cut off the top of sachet 2.

Do not put your fingers into the sachet. Wash your hands if you touch the sachet contents, in order to reduce the chance of contamination.

Step 10

Empty the contents of sachet 2 into the cup.

Step 11

Stir for at least 30 seconds. The powder from sachet 2 may not dissolve completely. It will form a slightly cloudy mixture with some white particles.

If desired, after stirring in sachet 2 for at least 30 seconds, stevia sweetener (no more than 1 gram or ¼ teaspoon) or sugar (sucrose, not more than 4 grams or 1 teaspoon) may be added, and then stirred into the suspension. DO NOT add other sweeteners as this may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Step 12

Drink the full contents of the cup within 15 minutes of preparing it. Some residue may remain in the cup and must be discarded. If you or your child take less than half of the dose, contact your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse right away about the need for a repeat dose.

Step 13

Dispose of the empty sachets according to local biosafety guidelines.

Ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse how to throw away medicine waste material.

Step 14

If a spill occurs while stirring or drinking the medication, or there is any residue (powder or liquid left behind from a stirring utensil, cup, or other object) on the mixing surface, clean up spilled material or residue preferably with a disposable paper towel/cloth using hot water and soap or antibacterial disinfectant. Discard the paper towel together with the sachets (see above).

Step 15

Wash the cup and spoon or stirrer with soap and hot water.

Step 16

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water to prevent contamination.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

• Each dose contains 4×10⁸ to 2×10⁹ viable cells of Vibrio cholerae strain CVD 103-HgR¹.
• The other ingredients are sucrose, hydrolysed casein, ascorbic acid, lactose, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium carbonate (see Section 2. Vaxchora contains lactose, sucrose and sodium).
• This vaccine contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

¹ Produced by recombinant DNA technology.

One dose of Vaxchora effervescent powder and powder for oral suspension is provided in a carton containing two sachets. One sachet contains white-to-off-white buffer sodium hydrogen carbonate effervescent powder. The other sachet contains white-to-beige active ingredient vaccine powder for oral suspension.