live attenuated rotavirus vaccine at a glance
Medicine class
Live attenuated viral vaccine
Administration
Ready-to-use liquid given into the mouth; it must not be injected
After vaccination
Normal feeding and activities can continue; wash hands carefully after nappy changes
What is live attenuated rotavirus vaccine used for?
Used for:
Active immunisation of infants to prevent gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus infection.
How does live attenuated rotavirus vaccine work?
The weakened rotavirus strain stimulates an immune response that helps protect against later rotavirus gastroenteritis.
How to take live attenuated rotavirus vaccine
A trained healthcare professional gives the ready-to-use liquid gently into the side of the infant’s mouth. It must not be injected, diluted or mixed with another vaccine or solution.
Feeding, including breastfeeding, can continue before and after vaccination.
If most of the liquid is immediately spat out or brought back up, tell the vaccinator before leaving.
Wash hands carefully after nappy changes because weakened vaccine virus may temporarily be present in stools.
live attenuated rotavirus vaccine side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea
- Irritability
Get urgent medical advice
- Persistent vomiting, bloody stool, marked abdominal pain or swelling, which may indicate intussusception
- Breathing difficulty, facial or tongue swelling, collapse or other signs of anaphylaxis
- Severe or prolonged gastroenteritis in an infant with an unrecognised serious immune deficiency
- Pauses in breathing in very premature infants
live attenuated rotavirus vaccine in pregnancy
This vaccine is intended for infants, not pregnant adults. Maternal treatment with immunomodulating biological medicines during pregnancy may suppress the infant’s immune system and can make the infant ineligible; the immunisation team needs the exact treatment history and specialist advice where uncertain.
live attenuated rotavirus vaccine while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can continue and does not appear to reduce vaccine protection. If the mother is receiving a biological immunosuppressive medicine while breastfeeding, the infant’s eligibility needs specialist assessment before vaccination.
live attenuated rotavirus vaccine interactions
Relevant concomitant medicines and vaccines include:
Routine childhood vaccines
They may be given at the same visit without a clinically important effect on immune responses or safety profiles.
Oral poliovirus vaccine
Concomitant use may slightly reduce the immune response to rotavirus vaccine, although protection against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis was maintained in a clinical study.
Immunosuppressive biological medicines
Exposure through the mother during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or clinically important immunosuppression in the infant, may make live vaccination unsuitable and needs specialist assessment.
Common questions about live attenuated rotavirus vaccine
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is it used for?
It helps protect infants against gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus.
Is it given by mouth or injection?
It is given as liquid into the mouth and must not be injected.
Can my baby feed before or after vaccination?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.