rotavirus

[Honey693]

DD had a WBV and got some of her 2 month shots. She's getting the rest at 3 months and her doctor asked if I was doing rotavirus then. I have no idea if I want to or not. Our doctor didn't really help us decide, she said since DD's not in daycare it's not a big deal if I don't and that's the main reason people get it (I love her for not pushing any of DD's vaxes). DD isn't in daycare, but we do go to playgroups occasionally and I want her to do swim classes this summer. I'm torn on this one, especially since it's not a shot so the pain factor isn't there. Can someone link me to the risks of getting this/not getting it,especially if she has very limited contact with other kids.

[nia82]

I wouldn't do it, but again I'm on the fence about vaccines altogether and prolly won't do any.

Anyways, here's my 2 cents about Rotavirus: I wouldn't do it. I have a friend who is a pedi nurse and she thinks it's bogus. Rotavirus is more commonly found in daycare setting than at home; it also is not that terrible as portrayed. It's not pretty, lots of diarrhea, worst case you have to go to the hospital for IV fluids. She has seen plenty of cases in the hospital (of overly worried parents) and no kid ever died. I admit there might be a slight chance, but really, most of us had rotavirus by age 4 and we're all here. Rotavirus is more a concern in poor countries with poor hygiene options and lack of fresh, clean potable water.

[lirpasirhc]

the congressional testimony from when they decided to fund the first rotavirus vax (recalled due to terrible side effects) convinced me that this vax is worthless. they deiced to fund it b/c diarrhea is serious in malnourished children who don't have access to IVs in the 3rd world. the vax is too expensive to give to 3rd world children, so they decided to put it on the CDC schedule so that rich Americans could fund the vax for the 3rd world. my links got deleted awhile ago, but i'm sure you could look it up if you wanted.

it's very eye opening to read the congressional testimony about any vax that they fund. most of the vaxes were funded to keep parents from missing work to stay home with sick kids.

[Marnica]

I wouldn't get a potentially dangerous vaccine for a self-limiting childhood issue. There is also no evidence that the Rota vax even works. Here is a quote from a journal article:

"No correlation bewteen antibody titer and immunity against rotavirus infection was identifiable when serum antibodies were measured. No consistent relationship was found bewteen titers and any of the six antibodies to the 6 viruses in the vaccine and clinical protection against developing rotavirus infection."
REF: Vaccine. Vol 13, Issue 13, pages 1226-1232. "lack of correlation between serum rotavirus antibody titers and protection following vaccination with reassortant RRV vaccines."

I also personally know of at least a dozen kids who have come down with Rota Virus as a result of the vaccine.

Another reason I'd pass is that the rota vax is often manufactured using Bovine serum which is often contaminated with a bovine diarrhea virus (BVDV). The medical literature indictaes that BVDV can cause diarrhea in humans. hmmmm so get a vax for diarrhea that can actually cause diarrhea due to being contaminated with animal pestiviruses. makes no sense to me.

[peainthepod]

Rotavirus is a fact of life, especially for children. Unless your LO is malnourished and lives without access to clean water and basic medical care, it shouldn't be a concern. It isn't fun, but it's also pretty unavoidable.

The vaccine seems ineffective and potentially harmful, with breakthrough infections common. Not worth it at all, IMO.

[PenelopeJune]

When DS was a baby, I got all the vaccines except for this one. (didn't know any better.) He ended up getting rotavirus (I think from licking a shopping cart handle...ew! My guess anyway.) It was no fun, he barfed in the car for two hours, and then he had diarhea for a few days and it smelled TERRIBLE. But I'm not sorry we didn't get the vax. It wasn't like we had fun being sick (I got it, too) but it certainly wasn't the worst thing in my life. I only wish we hadn't been in the car! THAT was the terrible part.

Plus, I'm pretty sure that was the first year the vax was back out and many kids were injured from it, if I remember correctly.

[kate3]

Unless your LO is malnourished and lives without access to clean water and basic medical care, it shouldn't be a concern

worst case you have to go to the hospital for IV fluids. She has seen plenty of cases in the hospital (of overly worried parents) and no kid ever died

Just for another perspective. One of my children almost did die from rotavirus, and I can assure you she wasn't malnourished and we most definitely do not live in a third world country (and we have heat and clean running water too). My 3 yo daughter ended up hospitalized due to severe dehydration. She had significant electrolyte imbalances that lead to a cardiac arrythmia that would have been fatal if not corrected. We found her unresponsive in the morning with a blood sugar of only 38. She had been sick for a day.

I am also a nurse and before this happened I considered rota to be an "annoying childhood illness". Now I have a whole new respect for the virus. My children were not vaccinated because at the time the "new" version of the vaccine hadn't come out yet. While I completely agree that my daughter's case was unusually severe, (especially for a child that was not in day care and had been breastfed for years), sometimes bad things really do happen. Do they happen to most people: probably not. No one could tell me why my otherwise perfectly healthy child was so incredibly ill. I'm not trying to convince you to get the vaccine or not get the vaccine. Just pointing out that minor things sometimes aren't minor for everyone.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by kate3

Just for another perspective. One of my children almost did die from rotavirus, and I can assure you she wasn't malnourished and we most definitely do not live in a third world country (and we have heat and clean running water too). My 3 yo daughter ended up hospitalized due to severe dehydration. She had significant electrolyte imbalances that lead to a cardiac arrythmia that would have been fatal if not corrected. We found her unresponsive in the morning with a blood sugar of only 38. She had been sick for a day.

I am also a nurse and before this happened I considered rota to be an "annoying childhood illness". Now I have a whole new respect for the virus. My children were not vaccinated because at the time the "new" version of the vaccine hadn't come out yet. While I completely agree that my daughter's case was unusually severe, (especially for a child that was not in day care and had been breastfed for years), sometimes bad things really do happen. Do they happen to most people: probably not. No one could tell me why my otherwise perfectly healthy child was so incredibly ill. I'm not trying to convince you to get the vaccine or not get the vaccine. Just pointing out that minor things sometimes aren't minor for everyone.

I'm sorry that happened. That must have been very scary. Im gald she is ok.
And I totally understand why your perspective would be different...how could it not?? But getting vaccinated for Rota doesn't mean you won't still get rota and become as ill as your daughter was or ill from another pestivirus.I know of a child recently who was hospiltaized in the PICU for the same symptoms you described in your daughter shortly after receiving the rota vax. It's a risk either way and either way yes bad things do happen and there are no guarantees.

[nummies]

Info on rotavirus:

What is Rotavirus? Intestinal virus. It causes vomiting and diarrhea. First hand, I can tell you than the diarrhea is severe but manageable. The important thing about rotavirus is to make sure the child is hydrated well. For Nathan, it lasted around a week or so. He was crabby and didn't want to do anything but nurse, but we got through it just fine. My husband and I also had it. Much less severe. Oddly enough, once I got rotavirus, I must have made immunities and passed them on to Nathan through nursing. Because his case cleared up right after that. Gotta love breastmilk!!!

What are the odds of catching Rotavirus? Around 2 million cases a year. Only serious if the person when person gets dehydrated. I will say that again, rotavirus isn't dangerous, dehydration is. It is most common in daycare centers when workers don't wash hands between diaper changes.

What is the "Recommended schedule" for the rotavirus vaccine? Called Rotateq and Rotarix: 2 months, four months, and 6 months

What are the Rotavirus vaccine ingredients? (different brands) cow blood products, monkey cells, aborted fetal cells, live virus strains.

What are the adverse reactions of the rotavirus vaccine? Because this is considered a "live vaccine" symptoms of rotavirus occur afterwards and can be transmitted to others. (I am rolling my eyes as I type this). Anyway, the standard adverse reactions occur. In addition, a higher than average rate of seizures, severe intestinal blockage.

Why I don't get the vaccine for my child. I don't like the ingredients. I don't like the fact that even after he gets the vaccine he will get symptoms of the disease. Seems wonky to me. We had the disease and it was fine. He isn't in daycare and he is breastfed.

[Honey693]

Ok, after reading this and doing some on my own we are definitely not getting this. Thanks everyone!