Dukoral (wc-rBS) Oral Cholera Vaccine – Shelf Life

Dukoral is a killed whole-cell, recombinant B-subunit (wc-rBS) oral cholera vaccine. Like most inactivated/killed vaccines, its stability and shelf life are dependent on maintaining the cold chain within the manufacturer-specified range.

When stored under the recommended conditions of 2 °C to 8 °C (and protected from light, not frozen), the labeled shelf life of Dukoral is 3 years from the date of manufacture.

Option Analysis

• 3 years: Correct. This is the manufacturer-approved shelf life of Dukoral when stored continuously between 2 °C and 8 °C.
• 5 years: Incorrect. This overstates the approved stability period; no formulation of Dukoral carries a 5-year shelf life under standard cold-chain storage.
• 1 year: Incorrect. This underestimates the vaccine's stability; Dukoral remains potent well beyond one year when properly refrigerated.
• 6 months: Incorrect. This is far shorter than the actual approved shelf life and does not reflect the vaccine's cold-chain stability profile.

Therefore, the correct answer is 3 years.