Rotavirus vaccines provide safe and effective protection against rotavirus disease and its complications.
The vaccine is primarily given to infants and young children because the disease most often affects this age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that infants receive their first dose of this vaccine at 2 months of age and complete the vaccination series by 8 months of age.
Rotavirus is easily transmitted. This disease causes severe watery diarrhea. Fever and vomiting may occur, increasing the risk of dehydration (fluid loss). In severe cases, it can be life-threatening.
4 Reasons Your Child Should Get the Rotavirus Vaccine
1. It will work
Rotavirus vaccine is the best way to protect your baby from this disease. The disease has become less common since vaccines were introduced in 2006. The vaccine has also prevented approximately 40,000 to 50,000 hospitalizations for young children each year since its introduction.
2. There is no cure for rotavirus
There is no specific drug to treat rotavirus infection. Children infected with rotavirus should be encouraged to drink fluids to prevent dehydration and the need for hospitalization. Symptoms of rotavirus can last 3 to 8 days.
3. Rotavirus is highly contagious
Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of severe diarrhea in the United States. It is a highly infectious virus. Almost all children will be infected with rotavirus at least once by the time they are 5 years old.
4. This disease can be life-threatening
Most children recover from rotavirus without any problems, but it can cause dehydration. If this occurs in an infant younger than 12 months, intravenous (IV) hydration may be required to replenish fluids and prevent life-threatening complications. In severe cases, it may cause convulsions and shock. Dehydration is the most common cause of rotavirus-related deaths.
How the virus spreads
Rotavirus is primarily spread by fecal-oral contact through direct contact with infected stool. Because the virus is stable outside the body, it can also be spread by contact with contaminated objects, food, or water.
The virus typically spreads when a healthy person touches a small amount of infected stool while changing a diaper and then touches their mouth. Rotavirus can survive on hands for several hours and on hard, dry objects for several days, so you don’t need to be infected right away.
You can also become infected if you touch an infected area, such as a toy, changing table, or doorknob, that has a small amount of infected feces on it and then put your hand in or near your mouth. Hand washing and disinfectant cleaning can reduce the risk of rotavirus spread, but this powerful virus is difficult to control with these measures alone.
Infants and young children are most at risk for rotavirus infection. Children attending child care facilities are at the highest risk of infection. The virus also spreads easily in families and hospitals.
Get vaccinated: what to expect
The rotavirus vaccine has a low risk of side effects and can reduce the risk of hospitalization due to rotavirus. Experts agree that the benefits of getting the rotavirus vaccine outweigh the risks. Here’s what you can expect if your baby receives the vaccine.
Vaccination schedule
The CDC recommends that infants receive their first dose of rotavirus at 2 months of age. The rest of the vaccination schedule depends on the type of vaccine used. The schedule includes:
Rotatec (RV5): 3 consecutive oral doses at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months Rotarix (RV1): 2 consecutive oral doses at 2 months and 4 months
Guidelines for administering the rotavirus vaccine indicate that the vaccine should be administered before the child is 15 weeks old. Infants must receive a full dose of rotavirus vaccine by the time they are 8 months old. If you miss your first vaccination at 2 months of age, you may still be eligible to receive vaccinations on a modified schedule under the supervision of your health care provider.
It is considered safe for infants to receive the rotavirus vaccine during the same visit that they receive the following vaccines:
Coadministration of rotavirus vaccine does not affect the infant’s immune response to other vaccines.
available vaccines
Two rotavirus vaccines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States.
RotaTeq (RV5): Approved in 2006 Rotarix (RV1): Approved in 2008
RotaTeq and Rotarix are both live attenuated viruses, which are manufactured using a live but very weak form of rotavirus. Because these vaccines are closely related to rotavirus, they stimulate a strong, long-lasting immune response that protects against the virus.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) support the use of rotavirus vaccination and have not stated a preference between RotaTeq and Rotarix. However, both organizations recommend using the same product to complete the vaccine course. If it is unclear which type of rotavirus vaccine a child initially received, the AAP and ACIP support prioritizing completing the series with the available vaccine formulation.
Oral administration
Both Rotatec and Rotarix are given orally rather than by injection. The vaccine is given by dropping it into the mouth, against the inside of the cheek so that the infant can swallow it.
There is a small risk of contracting rotavirus by coming into contact with your baby’s feces when changing diapers immediately after vaccination. This can occur because the vaccine passes through the gastrointestinal (GI) system.
Although rare, it is important to take precautions to avoid this if you or someone in your family is immunocompromised (has a weakened immune system). To reduce the risk of this type of infection, thoroughly clean your hands after each diaper change for up to two weeks after your baby’s vaccination.
Additionally, it is theoretically possible that your baby could be infected with attenuated rotavirus by kissing your baby on the mouth after receiving the rotavirus vaccine. However, no studies have investigated viral transmission via this route.
potential side effects
Side effects that can occur with any rotavirus vaccination include:
Rarely, intussusception (a type of obstructive bowel syndrome) may occur within a week after the first or second rotavirus vaccination. This condition is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate emergency treatment. Symptoms usually begin suddenly. If your infant exhibits the following signs of intussusception after receiving the rotavirus vaccine, seek emergency medical treatment immediately:
Crying very loudly (this may occur with waves that come and go) Pulling the knees toward the chest Moaning in pain Passing cassis-jelly-like stools (feces mixed with blood and mucus) The baby is swollen Vomit Vomiting bile, a yellow-green liquid with a bitter taste
How effective are vaccines?
Rotarix and RotaTeq rotavirus vaccines are both considered safe and effective in preventing severe rotavirus disease. Research from a large study of rotavirus vaccine performance in the United States. have shown that both vaccines are effective in preventing rotavirus-related hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and serious infections in young children.
According to the CDC, studies have shown that both vaccines provide comparable efficacy in:
Rotatech (RV5)
In large-scale clinical trials, RotaTeq demonstrated efficacy during the first rotavirus season (December to June) following vaccination.
98% protection against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis, defined as fever, vomiting, and behavioral changes 74% protection against any severity of gastroenteritis, defined as inflammation of the stomach and intestines
Additionally, during the first two years after vaccination, infants who received the RotaTeq vaccine were 94% less likely to visit the emergency room and 96% less likely to be hospitalized.
Rotarix (RV1)
Research has shown that Rotarix has demonstrated a comparable range of effectiveness.
Provides 85% to 96% protection against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis over two rotavirus seasons (December to June), based on two clinical trials. Based on one clinical trial, it shows 96% efficacy in reducing hospitalizations during two rotavirus seasons.
Is it safe?
Both rotavirus vaccines are considered safe. The main safety concern is that the vaccine slightly increases the risk of intussusception. In this rare but serious condition, parts of the intestine fold or “stretch.” This condition can occur naturally in infants younger than 24 months. Studies show that the rate of intussusception in vaccinated infants ranges from approximately 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 100,000.
Data from large surveillance studies on intussusception show that for every hospitalization for intussusception caused by rotavirus vaccination, the vaccine prevents from a few hundred to more than 1,000 hospitalizations. Masu. Based on these statistics, the benefits of rotavirus outweigh the slight risk of intussusception.
1999 rotavirus vaccine recall
The first rotavirus vaccine was approved in 1998. The vaccine, called RotaShield, was removed from the market the following year. Despite prelicensure clinical data showing safety, Rotashield caused a high rate of intussusception in some infants under 12 months of age. In the first year of use, this vaccine was associated with 15 cases of intussusception. Rotasield was immediately removed from the recommended vaccine schedule and is no longer available in the United States.
Should some kids avoid it?
Although the rotavirus vaccine is considered safe for most infants, your health care provider can help you decide whether your child should receive the rotavirus vaccine.
According to the CDC, infants with the following characteristics should not receive rotavirus vaccine:
Severe or life-threatening allergic reactions to previously administered rotavirus vaccines Severe or life-threatening allergies to substances used in rotavirus vaccines, including latex Severe combined immunodeficiency, in which the infant’s immune system fights infections A rare condition in which you may not be able to: A previous episode of intussusception, a severe type of intestinal obstruction, Moderate or severe illness, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or other conditions that affect the immune system, Cancer, or X-rays or Treatment methods that include drugs that weaken the immune system due to cancer treatment, such as steroids, etc.
Infants with moderate or severe illness, such as moderate or severe diarrhea or vomiting, should not be vaccinated. If there are no other contraindications to vaccination, you can receive the vaccination after recovery.
allergic reaction
Although it is very rare for children to have an allergic reaction to the rotavirus vaccine, it can occur. Like all vaccines, rotavirus vaccines carry a potential risk of anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction).
Allergic reactions can also occur hours or days after vaccination. If your child has any of the following signs of an allergic reaction after receiving the rotavirus vaccine, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.
summary
Rotavirus vaccine is recommended for all healthy infants starting at 2 months of age. Vaccines are the best way to protect your child from rotavirus and its serious complications. Infants can receive equivalent protection from either of the two FDA-approved oral rotavirus vaccines.
Side effects of the rotavirus vaccine are mild for most infants. The vaccine also carries a very small risk of intussusception. However, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the small risk of experiencing this side effect. Knowing the symptoms and other side effects of intussusception can help you recognize when these problems occur.
