ROTAVIRUS VACCINE
Oral 2 doses of an attenuated human strain (Rotarix from GSK) - Price per dose -£80
It will be some time (if ever) before this is offered by the government
Offers 85-98% protection against severe disease
100% protection against hospitalisation
The new vaccine does not cause intussusception
Both the GSK and the Merck vaccine have had extensive trials and one already has FDA approval (more than 60,000 participants per trial making these the largest and most expensive safety trials of any vaccine ever tested before licensing)
What is rotavirus?
Rotavirus is a virus (discovered 30 years ago) that causes severe diarrhoea, mostly in babies and young children. It is often accompanied by vomiting and fever. Rotavirus is not the only cause of severe diarrhoea, but it is one of the most serious.
World-wide it kills 610,000 children every year (which accounts for 5% of all deaths in those younger than 5 years).
Each year in the United States rotavirus is responsible for:
- more than 400,000 doctor visits
- more than 200,000 emergency room visits
- 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations
- 20-60 deaths
In the UK 18,000 hospitalisations per year. 1 in 4 children under 5 see their GP about it.
Almost all children in the U.S. and the UK are infected with rotavirus before their 5th birthday.
It is NOT a mild disease and costs parents time and money. When an infant has rotavirus infection it can be hard to get them to take the ORS.
Just 10 Virus particles can infect a child. Within 24 hours 10 viruses become millions in the gut.
Children who do survive their first infection suffer no long-term consequences and few get a second attack.
Children are most likely to get rotavirus disease between November and May, depending on the part of the country.
Children can get rotavirus infection by being around other children who are already infected.
Children should get 2 doses of rotavirus ROTARIX vaccine from GSK.
- The first dose should be given between 6 and 12 weeks of age. The vaccine has not been studied when started among children outside that age range.
- Children should have gotten both doses by 32 weeks of age.
Rotavirus vaccine may be given at the same time as other childhood vaccines.
Children who get the vaccine may be fed normally afterward.
Rotavirus vaccine is an oral (swallowed) vaccine; it is not given by injection. Rotavirus vaccine will not prevent diarrhea or vomiting caused by other germs, but it is very good at preventing diarrhea and vomiting caused by rotavirus. About 98% of children who get the vaccine are protected from severe rotavirus diarrhoea, and about 74% do not get rotavirus diarrhoea at all.
A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of rotavirus vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Getting rotavirus vaccine is much safer than getting the disease.
Mild problems
Children are slightly (1-3%) more likely to have mild, temporary diarrhea or vomiting within 7 days after getting a dose of rotavirus vaccine than children who have not gotten the vaccine. Moderate or severe reactions have not been associated with this vaccine.
If rare reactions occur with any new product, they may not be identified until thousands, or millions, of people have used it. Like all vaccines, rotavirus vaccine will continue to be monitored for unusual or severe problems.
