Stability of cholera and typhoid vaccines.

Fluid plain and adsorbed and freeze-dried cholera and tyhpoid vaccines of different composition were examined for thermostability by potency testing (by active mouse protection tests) after exposure to 37 degrees C for 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Loss of potency was evaluated by comparison with samples stored at 4 degrees C. The fluid plain cholera vaccine remained fully potent for 1--3 weeks, the adsorbed vaccine for at least 4 weeks. The fluid typhoid vaccines showed greater thermosensitivity than the fluid plain cholera vaccine. The freeze-dried cholera and typhoid vaccines were both very stable, retaining fully potency after at least 12 weeks' exposure to 37 degrees C. It should be emphasized that the above results apply exclusively to vaccines prepared by the methods used by the authors and formulated to identical compositions.