Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and small children. The illness is usually associated with high fever, severe vomiting and diarrhoea which frequently lead to dehydration and hospital admission. The illness can last 6 to 9 days. It is estimated that around half a million children die worldwide each year as a result of rotavirus infection.
Rotarix is a live vaccine containing 5 strains of the virus – the vaccine is given orally, with doses at 6 weeks and 4 months. The vaccine only protects against rotavirus – not against the many other causes of gastroenteritis.
This vaccine is on the schedule for babies born from 1/5/2007. The course of vaccinations must be completed in the 6 to 32 week period and is not available to older children or adults.
Rotarix is a live vaccine containing 5 strains of the virus – the vaccine is given orally, with doses at 6 weeks and 4 months. The vaccine only protects against rotavirus – not against the many other causes of gastroenteritis.
This vaccine is on the schedule for babies born from 1/5/2007. The course of vaccinations must be completed in the 6 to 32 week period and is not available to older children or adults.
The Vaccine:Rotateq is a live vaccine containing 5 strains of the virus – the vaccine is given orally.
It is now part of the regular childhood immunisation schedule, with doses at 6 weeks and 4 months. The vaccine only protects against Rotavirus, not against the many other causes of gastroenteritis. The vaccine contains no preservative or thiomersal. |
Recommended for:Children via the Immunisation Schedule for Children
As the vaccine is a live vaccine, it should not be given to:
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Adverse Reactions:Reactions to the vaccine are uncommon – some children developed diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, runny nose, cough or wheeze and ear infection in the period after vaccination but the incidence was around the same as children not vaccinated in the same period.
Suggestions that intussusception (a serious bowel obstruction) is associated with the vaccine appear unfounded. |