Rotavirus is the most common cause of serious diarrhea in babies and young children. It usually affects children between the ages of six months and 2 years. Without this vaccine, almost all children will have at least one episode of rotavirus diarrhea before they turn 5 years old.
Which brands are available for the Rotavirus Vaccine?
They are available under these brand names: Rotarix (RV1) and RotaTeq (RV5). Both vaccines are effective.
How safe is the rotavirus vaccine?
This vaccine is very safe. There is a small increased risk of intussusception (bowel blockage) especially in the first week after receiving the vaccine. Parents should return to the doctor if the child isn’t well. No other serious adverse events have been noted.
Routine vaccination:
Minimum age: 6 weeks for all available brands ( RV-1 [Rotarix], RV-5 [RotaTeq] and RV-116E [Rotavac]).
Only two doses of RV-1 are recommended.
RV1 should preferably be employed in 10 and 14 week schedule, instead of 6 and 10 week; the former schedule is found to be far more immunogenic than the later.
If any dose in series was RV-5 or RV-116E or vaccine product is unknown for any dose in the series, a total of 3 doses of RV vaccine should be administered.
Catch-up vaccination:
The maximum age for the first dose in the series is 14 weeks, 6 days.
Vaccination shouldn’t be initiated for infants aged 15 weeks, 0 days or older.
The maximum age for the final dose in the series is 8 months, 0 days.