Rotavirus vaccine

Protect your baby against rotavirus – a common cause of sickness and diarrhoea that can become serious in some infants

Type of vaccine

Single live oral rotavirus vaccine

Protects against

Rotavirus

Primary course

2 doses by mouth

Boosters

No

Suitable for ages

6-24 weeks only

What is the rotavirus vaccine?

Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and dehydration in infants, young children and some adults. It can be spread by coughing and sneezing but also through hand-to-mouth contact (most often, when an infected person hasn’t washed their hands properly after going to the toilet). It’s common for children to pick it up from surfaces such as toys, dirty nappies or hands.

In countries with high childhood mortality, rotavirus results in more diarrhoea-related deaths in children under five years than any other single agent.

Even in countries with low mortality rates, rotavirus can lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous for babies and young children. Some children need an IV (needle in their vein) in a hospital to replace lost fluids.

The rotavirus vaccine is given orally and helps to protect infants and young children from severe cases of this illness.

How does the rotavirus vaccine work?

This vaccine contains a weakened version of rotavirus. This helps your child’s immune system to be able to recognise and fight the virus if they come into contact with it in the future.

Because the vaccine is given by mouth, it is possible for the virus to pass through your baby’s gut and affect whoever changes his or her nappy. This is unlikely but, as a precaution, you should wash your hands well and observe good hygiene after nappy changes.

Who should have the rotavirus vaccine?

It’s recommended as part of the NHS schedule. However, many parents feel it is rarely life-threatening and choose not to give this vaccine. We can discuss this with you during your consultation.

Rotavirus vaccine FAQs

Before the introduction of the vaccine in the UK in July 2013, around half of all gastroenteritis in children under five years old was caused by rotavirus and in England and Wales, about one out of 10 of those children (roughly 13,000 a year) were admitted to hospital.

Recently updated research found that the Rotarix vaccine for rotavirus (the vaccine we offer at BabyJabs) prevents 84% of severe rotavirus diarrhoea cases in countries with low childhood mortality rates such as the UK.

In countries with high childhood mortality rates, the vaccine prevents 63% of severe rotavirus diarrhoea cases.

Of course, rotavirus isn’t the only cause of sickness and diarrhoea in babies. While the vaccine prevents severe symptoms of rotavirus in eight out of 10 children, your child may still catch other bugs that cause sickness and diarrhoea.

Like all vaccines, the rotavirus vaccine can cause side effects. For the majority of babies, they’re mild and self-resolve within a day or two.

Most babies do not experience any problems at all after having their rotavirus vaccination.

In those that do, the most common side effects are a loss of appetite, restlessness and irritability. Some children develop mild diarrhoea, vomiting, wind and abdominal pain.

Very rarely, the vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or a blockage in a baby’s intestine (intussusception).

The Rotarix oral vaccine for rotavirus is only suitable for young babies and is licensed for infants up to 24 weeks of age.

It’s been found that some babies between the ages of five months to a year can experience a life-threatening blockage in their intestines (intussusception) after having this vaccine, which is why it is not recommended for older infants. This is extremely rare, affecting between one and six in every 100,000 babies vaccinated.

The rotavirus vaccine may not be recommended if your child:

  • Has had an allergic reaction to rotavirus vaccines or any of the other ingredients of this vaccine (see the fact box at the bottom of the page) – signs of an allergic reaction may include an itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and/or swelling of the face or tongue
  • Was born with a malformation of the gut that could lead to intussusception
  • Has previously had intussusception
  • Has a rare inherited illness which affects their immune system called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)

If your child has a cold, they should still be able to have the vaccine. However, if they feel very poorly, have a temperature (over 37.4°C) or are vomiting or have diarrhoea when their appointment is scheduled, let us know as it might be necessary to postpone until they’ve recovered.

Please also let us know if your child is likely to come into close contact with anyone with a weakened immune system or if they haven’t been gaining weight as expected.

The rotavirus vaccine is given orally as drops in your baby’s mouth.

It’s not known exactly how long protection against rotavirus lasts after a complete course of the oral vaccine. We do know that it is over 85% effective against severe rotavirus infection for the first two years of life. Some babies do still get a rotavirus infection after vaccination but their symptoms are usually milder.

The rotavirus vaccine is given in two separate doses between six and 24 weeks of age. It is recommended that the first dose is given before 15 weeks.

No.

No, the vaccine is only licensed for use with infants up to 24 weeks in age.

Yes.

Yes. The oral rotavirus vaccine is routinely given to babies at eight weeks and 12 weeks under the NHS childhood vaccination schedule.

Ingredients of the rotavirus vaccine

Name: Rotarix

Age: Suitable from six weeks

Manufacturer: GlaxoSmithKline

Active ingredients: Human rotavirus RIX4414 strain

Other ingredients: Sucrose, Di-sodium Adipate, Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) (containing phenylalanine*, sodium, glucose, and other substances), sterile water

* This vaccine contains 0.15 microgram phenylalanine in each dose. Phenylalanine may be harmful if your child has phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder in which phenylalanine builds up because the body cannot remove it properly

Mercury content: Nil

Aluminium content: Nil

Contains porcine gelatin?: No

Contains dairy products?: No

Licensed for use in the UK

Rotarix patient information leaflet: Click to view

Aftercare

We’ll give you detailed aftercare advice for your child after their vaccination(s), including what to do in the event of any side effects.

Your child may experience some redness, tenderness and/or swelling at the injection site, so it’s helpful to expect this. These side effects should self-resolve within a few days.

You can download our Patient Aftercare leaflet here.

If your child is unwell outside of clinic hours, please call 111 for advice or go to A&E if they need urgent medical attention.

Individual advice about the rotavirus vaccination

Need advice about whether your child should have the rotavirus vaccine? The BabyJabs team is here to listen and answer your questions to help you decide.