Here’s a question we have received at the clinic with all of the cancelled travel plans:
“I took my first dose of Dukoral for prevention of traveller’s diarrhea and now my travel plans are postponed/cancelled… should I stop taking the Dukoral?”
You have a few potential options…
1. You can still take the second dose 1 week after the first dose. The Dukoral remains effective for 3 months after the second dose. If you reschedule travel plans between 3 months and 5 years after this second dose of Dukoral, you just need one booster dose.
2. You can wait up to 6 weeks after taking the first dose to take the second dose. The Dukoral is still effective for 3 months after the second dose, so it will remain effective for a little while longer. Again, if you reschedule travel plans between 3 months and 5 years after your second dose of Dukoral, you just need one booster dose.
3. You could stop the Dukoral and keep the second dose in your fridge until your travels plans are rescheduled. But keep in mind if it is more than 6 weeks after your first dose, you will have to start over and take the two doses again when travel plans are rescheduled.
Bottom Line: You will likely be taking 3 total doses no matter which of these options you choose- it may be easiest just to take the second dose so you do not have Dukoral in your fridge for weeks or months. Then, when travel plans are rescheduled, you can just take one booster dose at least 1 week prior to you leave.