Benefits of Rotavirus Vaccination
The benefits of the rotavirus vaccination are:
1. It helps to prevent children from severe diarrhea, especially in developing countries.
2. It helps to prevent potentially fatal dehydration.
3. The vaccine is safe and effective. Less than one in ten children experience mild to moderate side effects.
4. The vaccine helps achieve Millennium Development Goal 4, which is to reduce child mortality.
5. Rotavirus vaccine could save up to 1 million lives annually by 2015
Harms associated with rotavirus vaccination:
1. It has not been tested on pregnant women
2. There are no trials for its use in infants under six weeks old
3. It has not been tested on breastfeeding mothers or infants
4. There is insufficient information about safety during pregnancy and lactation
5. The vaccine will only be available once every six months, so it may prove difficult for health care providers to access it frequently
7. Circumventricular organs (CVOs) such as the hypothalamus and pituitary glands within the brain are not fully developed in infants
8. Vaccinating mothers could cause the transfer of antibodies to the baby through breast milk, so they may be better off opting for breastfeeding
9. The vaccine has not been tested on children under six weeks old
10. It is only effective against one strain of rotavirus
11. There are concerns about long-term efficacy
12. Outbreaks have occurred in vaccinated populations
13. The vaccine provides partial immunity, so it will be more difficult to control outbreaks
14. Rotavirus vaccines have not been tested with other vaccines
15. Serious complications, especially neurological ones, have been reported among vaccinated babies
16. Rotavirus infection has been associated with a reduction in the risk of childhood leukemia
17. The vaccine causes intussusception or bowel blockages that may require corrective surgery
18. The vaccine does not prevent all rotavirus related diseases such as autoimmune conditions and other complications, including bacterial infections of the blood, gastroenteritis, and ear infections which can lead to hearing loss
19. Intussusception is often associated with viral respiratory infections, so it may be challenging to determine whether or not a child was suffering from an episode of rotavirus infection at the time of vaccination 19 In Japan, where a new rotavirus vaccine was introduced, cases of intussusception increased 4-fold
20. The vaccine has not been tested on children under 1-year-old
21. The vaccine has been associated with a reduction in the risk of childhood leukemia
22. There is insufficient information about safety during pregnancy and lactation
23. A family history of allergies or asthma increases the risk of severe reactions to the vaccine
24. Outbreaks have occurred in vaccinated populations
25. The vaccine does not prevent all rotavirus related diseases such as autoimmune conditions and other complications, including bacterial infections of the blood, gastroenteritis, and ear infections which can lead to hearing loss
Side effects of rotavirus vaccine:
Rotavirus vaccine is one of the most commonly used vaccines. Rotavirus vaccine is used in children under the age of two years.
The rotavirus vaccine is injected into a child’s thigh muscle, usually within 6 to 10 weeks after birth. Two brands are currently licensed for infants: ROTARIX (GlaxoSmithKline) and RotaTeq (Merck).
Most infants who receive the vaccine do not experience any side effects. However, like all vaccines, the rotavirus vaccine may cause minor problems in some children, such as fever, mild diarrhea, or vomiting. However, severe reactions are rare; according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less than 1% of vaccinations result in a powerful adverse effect – which includes anaphylaxis – that requires immediate medical attention.
is one dose of rotavirus vaccine effective:
A study in Chile found that three doses of the rotavirus vaccine were 95% effective, and an additional amount improved the effectiveness to 98%.
There has been no controlled trial to determine whether two doses are more effective than 3. However, a recent systematic review concluded that two doses have similar short-term efficacy to 3 quantities.
rotavirus vaccine age limit:
The rotavirus vaccine is licensed for use in children who are six weeks to 2 years old.
Only one brand, Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline), has been studied for safety and efficacy below six weeks. The results are considered inconclusive because of the small sample size. If necessary, healthcare providers may still choose to give the vaccine at any age.
is the rotavirus vaccine safe during pregnancy:
A study found no evidence that was receiving either of the two brands of rotavirus vaccines caused congenital disabilities or caused their babies to develop cancer later in life.
Rotarix was not associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, or small-for-gestational-age newborns.
A study found that Rotarix does not increase the risk for acute gastroenteritis but was associated with a reduced duration of diarrhea episodes.
is rotavirus vaccine safe during lactation:
There are no safety concerns among infants whose mothers receive the vaccines.
If it is necessary to vaccinate a breastfeeding mother, there are no known risks for the infant because of exposure to the vaccine through breast milk.
rotavirus vaccine side effects Netmums:
Not all babies will react to the vaccine, but the following are possible side effects:-
Fever or irritability:
A small percentage of babies may develop diarrhea after receiving this vaccine. If your baby develops diarrhea after a vaccination, it can be treated with ORS sachets available from pharmacies. If there are signs of dehydration, follow the advice given by your GP or health visitor. It is imperative to continue breastfeeding for comfort and fluid replacement if your baby has diarrhea.
is the rotavirus vaccine effective:
A study in Chile found that three doses of the rotavirus vaccine were 95% effective, and an additional amount improved the effectiveness to 98%. There has been no controlled trial to determine whether two doses are more effective than 3. However, a recent systematic review concluded that two doses have similar short-term efficacy to 3 quantities.