Rotavirus vaccine

Rotavirus gets its name from the way the virus looks like a wheel under a microscope. And you could say, as you could say about the wheel, that the rotavirus goes around in circles. This nasty, potentially deadly insect causes severe acute gastroenteritis with diarrhea and vomiting, primarily in infants and young children. Fortunately, there are two rotavirus vaccines that can protect children from this disease.

How big is the rotavirus problem?

Globally, it is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in young children, resulting in 2 million hospital admissions and more than 500,000 deaths in children under 5 years of age each year. Older children and adults can also be infected with the virus, but the illness is usually milder.

Rotavirus infection is highly contagious. The pathogen is present in the stool of an infected person and can remain viable for a long time on contaminated surfaces, including people's hands. Children become infected by touching something contaminated and then putting their hands in their mouths. The spread of rotavirus infection is a particular problem in hospitals and kindergartens, where it can be easily transmitted from child to child. It is also easily transmitted by day care workers, especially when changing diapers without washing hands afterwards.

Symptoms of rotavirus infection, which can last up to eight days, include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and frequent watery diarrhea. If diarrhea is severe enough, it can cause dehydration, and it is dehydration that is the cause of hospitalizations and deaths associated with this disease.

How is the rotavirus vaccine given?

There are two brands of rotavirus vaccine: RotaTeq (RV5) and Rotarix (RV1). Both vaccines are given by mouth, not by injection. The only difference is the number of doses that need to be administered.

RotaTeq requires three doses. They should be given at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age. Rotarix requires only two doses - at 2 months and 4 months.

The vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines, and experts recommend including rotavirus vaccine in routine infant vaccinations.

How effective is the rotavirus vaccine?

Studies of the rotavirus vaccine have shown that it can prevent about 74% of rotavirus infections. More importantly, it can prevent approximately 98% of serious infections and 96% of rotavirus-related hospitalizations.

Is the rotavirus vaccine safe?

Before approval, the rotavirus vaccine had been tested on more than 70,000 children and found to be safe. However, an earlier vaccine called RotaShield was withdrawn from the market after two years of use because it was found to slightly increase the risk of intussusception, a condition in which the small intestine collapses inside another part of the intestine, causing a bowel obstruction.

The currently used RotaTeq and Rotarix vaccines do not increase this risk and are considered safe.

Are there children who should not be vaccinated against rotavirus?

Any child who had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of rotavirus vaccine should not receive new doses of the vaccine. If your child is moderately or severely ill at the time of the scheduled vaccination, wait until they are well before vaccinating them. Also, you should check with your doctor if your child's immune system is weakened. Things that can compromise the immune system include:

Exposure to HIV/AIDS or any other disease affecting the immune system
Treatment with long-term steroids
Cancer or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs

What are the side effects of the rotavirus vaccine?

There is a risk of a serious allergic reaction with any vaccine. Signs of an allergic reaction may include:

Difficulty breathing
Wheezing
Hives
Paleness
Fast heart beat

However, with the rotavirus vaccine, the risk of a serious reaction is extremely low.

Most children who receive the vaccine do not have problems. However, there is a small risk that your child will have temporary mild effects after vaccination, including: