Rotavirus vaccine
The rotavirus vaccine is designed to protect against rotavirus, a viral pathogen that affects the gastrointestinal system and can lead to severe symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. While many children experience mild illness, some can become severely dehydrated and require hospitalization. There are two primary forms of the vaccine: RotaTeq and Rotarix. RotaTeq is a three-dose vaccine given at two, four, and six months of age, while Rotarix is administered in two doses at two and four months. Both vaccines are taken orally, making them easier to administer than injectable vaccines. The history of the vaccine includes an initial licensing in 1998, a temporary withdrawal of recommendations due to safety concerns, and the later introduction of safer versions in 2006 and 2008. The widespread use of the vaccine has significantly reduced the incidence of rotavirus disease in the United States and has been a focus of public health efforts in developing countries, where rotavirus is a leading cause of acute gastrointestinal illness and associated mortality.
Rotavirus vaccine
Definition
The rotavirus vaccine prevents infection with rotavirus, a pathogen that invades the gastrointestinal system and can cause severe disease accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Many children acquire rotavirus and manifest only mild vomiting and diarrhea, but often, affected children require hospitalization to manage the resultant dehydration.
Mechanism of Action
The mechanism of action of the rotavirus vaccine depends upon the brand administered. The RotaTeq vaccine is a combination of a bovine strain of the virus that does not cause disease in humans and a component of the human rotavirus that cannot cause active infection. These components are then administered together in an oral dose and elicit an immune response without actually causing the disease, therefore providing protection from future illness.
The Rotarix brand of the vaccine is derived from a strain of human rotavirus that has been weakened enough to not cause active disease, while still eliciting an immune response from the patient.
History
The vaccine against rotavirus was first licensed in 1998. In 1999, the recommendation that the rotavirus vaccine be administered to all children was withdrawn because of reports of an association with intussusception, an illness that causes one segment of the bowel to telescope into another, sometimes requiring surgical repair. In 2006 and 2008, new, safer forms of the vaccine were licensed under the names RotaTeq and Rotarix, respectively.
Administration
It is recommended that the rotavirus vaccine be administered to all children in two or three doses, depending on which brand of vaccine is to be given. RotaTeq is the three-dose form of the vaccine and is given at two, four, and six months of age. Rotarix is the two-dose form and is given at two and four months of age. Both forms of the vaccine are oral and, therefore, do not require an injection for administration.
Impact
Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute gastrointestinal disease worldwide, with increased mortality in developing countries. Since the rotavirus vaccine was developed, concentrated efforts have been made by public health organizations to immunize the children of developing countries. In the United States, uniform administration of the vaccine has led to greatly decreased incidence of rotavirus disease.
Bibliography
Behrman, Richard E., Robert M. Kliegman, and Hal B. Jenson, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier, 2007.
Loehr, Jamie. The Vaccine Answer Book: Two Hundred Essential Answers to Help You Make the Right Decisions for Your Child. Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks, 2010.
Matson, David O. “Rotaviruses.” In Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, edited by Sarah S. Long, Larry K. Pickering, and Charles G. Prober. 3d ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2008.
"Rotavirus Vaccination." Centers for Disease Control, 19 July 2024, www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/vaccines/index.html. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Sears, Robert. The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. New York: Little, Brown, 2007.