Rota Virus Vaccination for your baby

Severe diarrhoea disease in young children can cause very dangerous consequences such as child mortality. Rota viruses are the most common cause of this disease throughout the world. According to the study of World Health Organization(WHO), 527 000 infants and young children aged up to 5 years die each year from rotavirus infections which are vaccine-preventable.  

Most of these children live in developing countries.

Rotavirus is a virus that is simply spread with the stools of an infected person through hand to mouth contact. The virus causes inflammation of the linings of the gastroenteritis (intestine) and stomach, resulting in sickness and diarrhoea.

Rotarix and RotaTeq, Two oral, live, attenuated rotavirus vaccines are available internationally; and both vaccines are deliberately safe and effective in preventing gastrointestinal disease.

WHO recommends that rotavirus vaccine for infants should be included in all national immunization programmes. The first dose of either RotaTeq or Rotarix is directed to give at your infants 6–15 weeks. The maximum age for administering the last dose of either vaccine should be 32 weeks. Your good hygiene and sanitation don't effectively stop Rota virus disease, so immunization is the best resistance. 

Rota Virus Vaccination: How does it work?

Active immunity

Rotarix vaccine works by provoking the body's immune response to the rotavirus organism, without causing an illness. When your baby’s body is exposed to foreign organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, the immune system suddenly produces antibodies against them. These antibodies help the body to diagnose and kill the foreign organisms. Then these antibodies remain in the body to help protect the body against future infections with the same organism. This is known as Active immunity. 

Rotavirus Vaccination: Recommended ages

Two or three doses before your baby’s 32 Weeks (8 months)

• At 6 Weeks
• At 10 Weeks
• At 6-8 Months (not needed if the Rotarix vaccine was given at 6 and 10 weeks) 

Beware (Not to be used in)

• If your baby who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of Rota virus vaccine.
• Children who had a genetic defect
• HIV infection
• Treatment with medicines that suppress baby’s immune system such as chemotherapy, high doses of corticosteroids or medicines to prevent transplant rejection.

Side effects

The possible side effects of Rotavirus Vaccines are the following. these side effects can affect individual children in different ways. We do not mean that all children having this vaccine will experience that or any side effect.

• Vomiting                         
• Irritability
• Flatulence
• Abdominal pain
• Regurgitation of food
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Crying
• Sleepiness
• Diarrhoea
• Hoarseness
• Runny nose
• Rash
• Diarrhoea
• Muscle cramps
• Infection of the upper airways

Related Topics

Hepatitis B Vaccine
MMR Vaccine
BCG Vaccine
Polio Vaccine
HIB Vaccine
Typhoid Vaccine
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