Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Rotavirus/FAQs Vaccine Rare Side Effect

Rotarix® Rotavirus Vaccine: Rare Side Effect Possible
Questions and answers for parents and caregivers

Rotavirus Vaccines Continue to be Recommended for Benefits in Preventing Serious Rotavirus Disease among U.S. Infants and Children.

Summary
.A safety monitoring study of Rotarix rotavirus vaccine conducted in Mexico by the vaccine’s manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, suggests that Rotarix vaccine may cause intussusception in infants during the first week after they receive the first dose of the vaccine. Intussusception is a type of bowel blockage caused when the bowel folds into itself like a telescope.
.If the risk for U.S. infants is similar to that found in the Mexico study, it would translate to 0 to 4 cases of intussusception from vaccine per 100,000 U.S. infants who receive the first dose of Rotarix.
.Rotavirus vaccines offer tremendous benefits by protecting infants and children from rotavirus disease. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children.
.The risk of intussusception after rotavirus vaccination is much lower than the risk of severe rotavirus disease in U.S. children who do not receive rotavirus vaccine.
.In addition to Rotarix, there is a second rotavirus vaccine available in the United States, RotaTeq, made by Merck
.CDC continues to recommend both of these vaccines to prevent rotavirus disease.

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Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Rotavirus/FAQs Vaccine Rare Side Effect