Rotavirus is a common cause of severe diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain in infants and young children. Before vaccines, it caused many hospitalizations and deaths. Safe and effective vaccines are now available to prevent this illness. Understanding the different types of rotavirus vaccines and how they work is important for protecting infant health.
The Main Types of Rotavirus Vaccines
Two primary types of rotavirus vaccines are widely available: Rotarix (RV1) and RotaTeq (RV5). Both are live-attenuated oral vaccines, containing a weakened form of the virus and administered as drops into an infant’s mouth.
They differ in composition and the number of doses required. Rotarix is a monovalent vaccine, targeting the G1P human rotavirus strain, but also provides protection against non-G1 types like G3, G4, and G9. It is given in a two-dose series, at 2 and 4 months of age.
RotaTeq is a pentavalent vaccine, containing five human-bovine reassortant rotavirus strains. It offers protection against G1, G2, G3, G4, and P1A serotypes. This vaccine requires three oral doses, administered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age.
How Rotavirus Vaccines Provide Protection
Live-attenuated rotavirus vaccines work by mimicking a natural infection without causing severe illness. When an infant receives the oral vaccine, the weakened virus replicates in the gut. This replication process stimulates the infant’s immune system.
The immune system then produces antibodies designed to recognize and fight off rotavirus. This creates an immune memory, allowing the body to mount a rapid and effective response if it encounters the virulent rotavirus in the future. Protection is similar to immunity from natural infection, but without severe symptoms and risks.
Who Receives the Vaccine and Its Benefits
Rotavirus vaccines are recommended for infants, with the first dose given between 6 and 15 weeks of age. The full vaccination series should be completed before the infant reaches 8 months of age. These vaccines can be administered alongside other routine childhood immunizations.
The vaccines are effective in preventing severe rotavirus disease. Clinical trials have shown RotaTeq to be 98% effective against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis and Rotarix to provide 85% to 96% protection against severe disease. Vaccination reduces hospitalizations and emergency room visits due to rotavirus.
Common side effects of the rotavirus vaccine are mild and temporary, such as fussiness, mild diarrhea, or vomiting. Serious reactions are rare, though there is a small increased risk of intussusception, a type of bowel blockage, within 7 days following a dose. However, the benefits of preventing severe rotavirus illness outweigh these low risks.