Public Cautioned Against Using Ciprofloxacin As Cholera Vaccine

The Ho Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr Atsu Seake-Kwawu, has warned the public against taking Ciprofloxacin as vaccine against cholera. 

He described the practice as terrible and very wrong and called for a stop to it. 

Dr Seake-Kwawu gave the warning in an interview following reports that some people in parts of the Volta Region were taking the drug as vaccine to prevent contracting cholera. 

He said the country has no vaccine for cholera and that preventive measures remained the surest way to manage the disease. 

Dr Seake-Kwawu said taking ciprofloxacin as vaccine is an abuse of a useful drug which could lead to the development of drug resistance. 

Dr Seake-Kwawu called on the Pharmacy Council to help resolve the situation saying, “Cholera” is real.  

The Volta Regional Manager of the Pharmacy Council, Ken Owusu, said it is unbelievable that people are taking ciprofloxacin without a doctor’s advice and described the practice as a dangerous abuse. 

He urged pharmacies to sell all antibiotics only on prescription. 

GBC/GNA