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Rotavirus Vaccine: Helping Parents and Caregivers Make Informed Decisions

The rotavirus vaccine protects against rotaviruses, a genus of viruses belonging to the Reoviridae family. Rotavirus infection is a common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children, leading to symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and frequent, watery diarrhea. There is no specific treatment for rotavirus infection, so the mainstay of management is supportive care through fluid replacement using low-osmolarity oral rehydration solutions (ORS).

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How the Vaccine Works

The rotavirus vaccine is a live, attenuated vaccine. It works by stimulating your child’s immune system to produce antibodies against rotaviruses, providing protection against the disease.

Why It's Important for Children's Health

Vaccinating your child against rotavirus is crucial because it can prevent severe diarrhea and dehydration, which can be life-threatening, especially in young children. By ensuring your child is vaccinated, you are protecting them from a common and potentially serious illness and contributing to the overall health of the community.

Benefits

Prevention of Severe Diarrhea: The rotavirus vaccine can prevent severe diarrhea and dehydration caused by rotavirus infection.
Reduced Risk of Hospitalization: Vaccination helps reduce the risk of hospitalization due to rotavirus infection.
Protection for Young Children: Children under one year of age are the most susceptible to severe rotavirus infection, making vaccination especially important for this age group.

Risks and Side Effects

Common Side Effects: These include mild diarrhea, vomiting, and irritability.
Rare but Serious Side Effects: There is a low risk of intussusception (a type of bowel obstruction) in some high- and middle-income countries, with 1–6 excess cases per 100,000 vaccinated infants documented for Rotarix® and RotaTeq® vaccines. Studies in sub-Saharan Africa have not demonstrated this risk, but monitoring is recommended, particularly when new rotavirus vaccines are introduced. The risk of intussusception has not been demonstrated with the Rotavac® vaccine.

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