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:
Certification Number EO10000521
