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Rotavirus

Rotavirus is a disease that can make babies and young kids sick with severe diarrhea, throwing up, dehydration, fever, stomach pain, and changes in behavior.source: 1 Rotavirus is caused by a virus and spreads easily through hand-to-mouth contact. It can spread if you don't wash your hands after changing a diaper or helping your child go to the bathroom. Then, you or your child touches food or other objects. The virus can spread to anything you touch. Rotavirus mostly affects babies and young kids.source: 2

Since the vaccine became available in 2006, the number of kids who get sick with rotavirus in the United States has significantly dropped.source: 3 The rotavirus vaccine is given orally. This means your child will swallow it. The vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.source: 4

Why does my child need to be vaccinated against rotavirus?

Rotavirus is contagious and spreads easily from child to child. Rotavirus can cause diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration. Kids with severe cases may need to go to the hospital.source: 1

How safe is the vaccine?

Over 15 years of safety monitoring shows the rotavirus vaccine is safe.source: 5 Like any medicine, there's a small chance that the rotavirus vaccine could cause other serious reactions. However, getting the rotavirus vaccine is much safer than getting rotavirus.

There's a small chance that rotavirus vaccine can cause blockage of the intestine (intussusception). This blockage of the intestine is serious but it is also rare and treatable. It occurs in between 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 100,000 infants who get the vaccine.source: 6

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VPD Rotavirus-baby boy, doctor and parent

How effective is the vaccine?

The rotavirus vaccine protects 90% of kids who get it from severe rotavirus disease.source: 7 Before the vaccine, many kids with rotavirus were hospitalized. Now that most kids get the vaccine, very few kids go to the hospital for rotavirus.source: 7 Versions of the current rotavirus vaccine were approved in 2006 and 2008.source: 3

What are the vaccine’s side effects?

Most babies who get the rotavirus vaccine don't have any side effects. If it does cause side effects, they're usually mild and go away in a few days. They may include fussing, diarrhea (watery poop), and throwing up.source: 7

Understanding the Risks

Getting Rotavirus vs. Getting Vaccinated

Rotavirus

Vaccine to Prevent Rotavirus

Common: Mild to Moderate Symptoms or Side Effects

The most common symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Severe diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Dehydration

If side effects occur, they are usually mild and last 1–2 days:

  • Fussiness
  • Temporary diarrhea
  • Vomiting

Rare: More Serious Symptoms, Complications or Side Effects

  • Serious dehydration requiring hospitalization
  • Death
  • Intussusception

When does my child need the vaccine?

All infants between 2 and 6 months need to get the rotavirus vaccine. They will either need 2 or 3 doses, depending on which brand of the vaccine they get. Children who are not caught up on the rotavirus vaccine can get the second dose 28 days after their first dose. Children can get the rotavirus vaccine at the same time as the DTaP vaccine, Hib vaccine, polio vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.source: 3,source: 7

First Dose

2 months

Second Dose

4 months

Third Dose

6 months (if they’re getting 3 doses)

More information

You can also visit these sites:

Sources

  1. CDC: About Rotavirus
  2. CDC: Clinical Overview of Rotavirus
  3. CDC: Pink Book: Rotavirus
  4. CDC: Administering the Rotavirus Vaccine
  5. CDC: Rotavirus Vaccine Safety
  6. CDC: Questions & Answers about Intussusception and Rotavirus Vaccine
  7. CDC: Rotavirus Vaccination
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