Rotavirus vaccine can protect children from diarrhea due to rotavirus infection. The disease can be dangerous because it is at high risk of causing the child to be dehydrated. Therefore, give the child rotavirus vaccine as scheduled, so that he avoids severe diarrhea.
Rotavirus is a virus that attacks the gastrointestinal tract and can cause gastroenteritis. Rotavirus can be transmitted through physical contact with rotavirus-containing feces or through unhygienically processed foods and beverages.
The virus often attacks babies and children and causes diarrhea in children. If not treated appropriately, diarrhea due to rotavirus infection can lead to dangerous severe dehydration.
To prevent your child from getting diarrhea due to rotavirus infection, You need to always maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the food and drink that your child consumes, get used to washing her hands, and complete her immunizations, including the administration of rotavirus vaccine.
Rotavirus Vaccine Benefits
Do you know that children are very susceptible to rotavirus? The disorder can cause intestinal infections, resulting in some symptoms such as severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain. If severe dehydration has occurred, treatment should be carried out immediately because it is in a serious condition.
You are also encouraged to do first aid such as giving a lot of fluids to the child to rehydrate it. Then, give medication to stop diarrhea and monitor the condition of the child. In this way you can keep her body still have the strength to survive before getting help from the doctor.
Maintaining good hygiene and sanitation can not necessarily prevent the spread of rotavirus effectively. Therefore, it is very important to know the benefits of rotavirus vaccine so that the child is not easily affected by this virus. This is because the most effective prevention is by immunization.
Any baby who has received the rotavirus vaccine is less likely to have severe diarrhea if stricken. In addition, another benefit of rotavirus vaccine is that it can protect children from gastroenteritis, namely inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Symptoms of the disease include acute diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite.
Rotavirus Vaccine Dose
Rotavirus vaccine is only administered per oral. One package consists of two doses. The first dose can be administered since the baby is 6 weeks old, the next dose is at least 4 weeks after the first dose. It is recommended that the dose of the vaccine be given in full before the baby is 16 weeks old, or at least it is complete by the time the baby is 24 weeks old.
Rotavirus Vaccine Schedule
Table 1. Vaccination schedule recommended by vaccine manufacturers.
| Vaccine | First dose | 2nd dose | 3rd dose | Interval between doses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RV1 (Rotarix) | 26 weeks | 24 weeks | – | 4 weeks |
| RV5 (RotaTeq) | 6-12 weeks | 10-22 weeks | 32 weeks | 4-10 weeks |
Based on the results of evidence-based research on the susceptible age of infection and death caused by rotavirus, vaccination schedule, as well as the safety and effectiveness of different immunization schedules, the WHO recommends the first dose of rotavirus vaccine be administered as soon as the child reaches the age of 6 weeks, simultaneously with the administration of DTP vaccination. It is intended for children to obtain early protection against rotavirus infection.
Table 2. WHO recommended vaccination schedule.
| Vaccine | Age of child at first dose | Interval between doses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dose 1 to 2 | Dose 2 to 3 | ||
| RV1 (Rotarix) | 6 weeks (minimum) simultaneously with DTP1 | At least 4 weeks simultaneously with DTP2 | – |
| RV5 (RotaTeq) | 6 weeks (minimum) simultaneously with DTP1 | At least 4 weeks simultaneously with DTP2 | At least 4 weeks simultaneously with DTP3 |
There is no recommendation of a maximum limit of the time interval of the administration of the vaccine between doses. However, a time interval of 8 weeks is more recommended. If the time interval between doses is elongated, the baby can still get the vaccine as long as it is administered at or before the age of 8 months.
There is no need to repeat a series of vaccines or increase the dose when the time interval between doses is elongated.
Administration of the Rotavirus vaccine is not recommended in children > 24 months, given the course of gastroenteritis due to rotavirus.
Administration of rotavirus vaccines, both types of vaccines, in children born prematurely should follow the recommended vaccination schedule according to their chronological age.
The administration of rotavirus vaccine can be done simultaneously with other vaccines in accordance with the immunization schedule.
- There is no need to repeat the administration of the vaccine if the baby spits or spews the vaccine. The next dose can be administered as scheduled, with a distance between vaccines of at least 4 weeks.
- Administration of the rotavirus vaccine range is recommended using the same type of product whenever possible. However, if the vaccine product used in the beginning is not available, it is recommended to complete the entire series of vaccinations with the available vaccines. If the initial dose uses the RV5 vaccine or it is dorsn’t known the type, then the administration of the vaccine should be administered as much as 3 doses.
- Breast milk does not weaken the body’s immune response to the rotavirus vaccine. Infants taking breast milk should be vaccinated according to schedule.
Infants affected by gastroenteritis due to rotavirus before receiving rotavirus vaccination should still start or complete schedule 2 or 3 doses of vaccination according to the recommended age, as previous infections only provide partial protection against rotavirus.
Side effects of rotavirus vaccine in infants
In all types of vaccines, there is a risk of an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Symptoms can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Rashes appear on the skin
- Pale-looking skin
- Fast heart rate
But the risk of allergic reactions to the rotavirus vaccine tends to be low. In addition, children can also experience side effects that include
- Diarrhea,
- Vomiting, and
- Fuss.
- Although very rare, the rotavirus vaccine can also trigger the intussusception (intestinal blockage). But the odds are only 1-2 out of 100,000 babies are vaccinated.
Symptoms of intussusception include an enlarged stomach, limp, frequent vomiting, frequent crying, and bloody bowel movements. If the baby experiences these signs, immediately take them to the nearest emergency unit (ER).
