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.

Rotateq is a live vaccine containing 5 strains of the virus – the vaccine is given orally, with doses at 2, 4 and 6 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.
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Rotarix is another vaccine against Rotavirus but does not form part of the ‘free’ schedule of vaccines in South Australia.
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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 2, 4 and 6 months.

The vaccine only protects against Rotavirus, not against the many other causes of gastroenteritis.

​The vaccine contains no preservative or thiomersal.

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Recommended for:

​Children via the Immunisation Schedule for Children

As the vaccine is a live vaccine, it should not be given to:
  • Children who have illnesses which affect their immune system such as cancer, AIDS, blood disorders
  • Children who are taking medication which may weaken the immune system e.g. cortisone or chemotherapy
  • Where a child is not gaining weight or growing as expected, has diarrhoea or vomiting or has a high fever, medical assessment prior to vaccination is advised 
  • if there has been a significant reaction to a previous dose or the child is allergic to any ingredient ( sucrose, sodium citrate, sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, sodium hydroxide, polysorbate 80).​

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.
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Suggestions that intussusception (a serious bowel obstruction) is associated with the vaccine appear unfounded.