tell me about the rotavirus vaccine

[newclementine]

We are vaxing on a selective/delayed based on Dr. (Bob) Sears, he reccomends that we give the rotavirus vax at an early 2 months. Our ped told us that the rotavirus might be one we skip because it is not deadly, just lands the baby in the hospital, but that she sees cases of it all the time. I have read that rotavirus CAN be deadly to an infant under age 1 and that's why you vax for it at 2 mos, that there is not really much use giving it to an older child.
I have read that people tend to skip it, but we are considering it and so really we are on the fence about it.
I'm not posting on the selective/delayed forum because I want to get opinions from non-vaxers as well an s/d folks.

[Amila]

I highly recommend skipping this vaccine. Especially if you are breastfeeding. Rotavirus is diarrhea, and really is not that serious. The original vaccine was yanked from the market in 1995 I believe because it caused several cases of infant intessuption (sp?) which is the twisting of the intestines that can lead to death. Merck came out with a "new and improved" version, yet you can find cases of the intessuption happening with this vaccine too if you search VAERS. Don't think there have been any deaths *yet* and of course all those cases were "coincidences." Not worth it IMO. Good luck.

[kiara7]

Yes, I wouldn't do it. They added it, took it off, supposedly "fixed it", brought it back - too many unknowns = too risky for me.

[alegna]

It's a VERY new vax- newest on the market in regular rotation.

It's not even required in any state.

Rotavirus is not deadly in the US.

No way I'd even consider it.

But I would not vax under 2 years at all.

-Angela

[LindsayK]

A couple of anecdotal stories for your consideration....

One friend of mine decided not to give her child the vaccine. her daughter got rotavirus and was sick for a week. Basically was miserable and nursed a lot. Her mother, in retrospect was still glad she hadn't done the vaccine, because it really wasn't that bad in her opinion.

Another friend of mine decided to do the vaccine. Actually, the way I found out about this was when she was telling me about how her 6 mo old was having a hard time nursing and was fussy. Turns out she had gotten rotavirus along with two other vaccines (I was only able to convince her to delay half her vaccinations) Her daughter had a high fever, high pitched screaming and nasty diahrrea for almost a week, most likely from the rotavirus vaccine. Diahrrea is a common side effect of the rotavirus vaccine, from what I have heard.

FYI - we are "selective/delayed" vaxers, but we've been delaying for the last half year, and haven't found any vaccines worth giving at each successive ped visit...

[Murihiku]

You could also weigh the risks to a baby of being hospitalized--I don't know how you would find those out though, and I'm not sure what level of mathematical skill would be involved in calculating the difference between the number of reported reactions to the vaccine and the number of reported complications arising from hospitalization (if they even are reported). I'm not much help, but I bet some other people here are experts on the dangers of hospitalization, and the complexities of risk analysis.

[not now]

For clarification intussusception is when the intestine telescopes into itself not twisting of the intestine. Still nasty, painful, hard to diagnose and dangerous since the affected area can lose blood circulation.

I still gave my son the Rotovax but I'm a little biased. The man and I see the worst of the worst cases of rotovirus from working in the ED. Couldn't image that being our kid.

[riverscout]

I decided against it because:

1) It's a common virus that most young kids get, and it will usually resolve with no medical intervention as long as the child stays hydrated.

2) It's generally not a deadly virus even for infants except in developing countries where access to health care is limited.

3) My children are not in any type of childcare setting which is one of the places where the virus is commonly transmitted.

4) It's too new and the old vaccine was pulled due to the risk of bowel obstruction.

5) Even my kid's pediatrician thinks it is sketchy.

6) It's not required for school.

[amnesiac]

There are some threads in the archives you might like:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...play.php?f=149
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...play.php?f=241

[chaoticzenmom]

It sounds like your dr. is giving you a hint about what he thinks about the vaccine. He cannot outright tell you what he thinks about it. Rotovirus is inconvenient, but it's a normal childhood illness.

Good luck
Lisa

[Ophelia]

I don't have the link handy right now, but on the CDC website it talks about the natural progression of the rotovirus. Basically, around 90% or more kids get it. With each natural exposure to the virus, a person becomes MORE immune to it, so adults generally don't even have a problem with it.

Yes, some kids DO have a hard time with it, I don't know the stats though. I do believe the vaccine is a live one, so it can cause the illness it's meant to prevent, hence diarrhea from the vaccine.

[jeanine123]

I'd also like to mention that it's a live vaccine which means there's a good possibility that it could cause the rotovirus itself, both in your baby and in anyone who changes the LO's diaper since it can shed.

We did not get it for our youngest, too new, the old vaccine was recalled because of deaths and I wasn't (and I"m still not) convinced that the new one was changed enough.

[Marnica]

Not worth it IMO...it's too new. It often causes the very thing it is meant to prevent. I know a baby who recently landed in the PICU after getting this vax.

[LilMama23]

I would absolutely skip it. My daughter had rotovirus at 13 months, and had awful diarrhea for a week, vomited twice, and wouldn't eat for a week and a half - except for breastmilk. She lost one pound. Overall, it was a bad experience but not that terrible. Getting a new vaccine without extended research to prevent the bad experience? Could become a much worse experience, IMO.

[williamsmommy2002]

I wouldn't do it. My ds had it at 12 months and I ended up with it pregnant with ds2 at the same time. We made it through just fine.

[Emmeline II]

It is a LIVE vaccine for diarrhea; the "deadly" aspect of the disease is possible dehydration. Neither of our children have had this vax.

[MadameXCupcake]

I wouldn't do it its a live vax which can cause rota and it sheds!
I have had rota[well most people have!] I'm not sure how old I was 3 or 4? But I was in the hospital for almost a week and I remember it quite well, all the IV's and how sick I was. I will still NOT get my DD this vax but we do not vax at all.

[pumpkin]

purely anecdotal

but my nephew had his 2nd dose of the rotavirus vaccine about a year and a half ago. I don't recall his exact age at the time, maybe 4 or 5 months. His intestines completely shut down and he had to be hospitalized for quite some time.

[julw3]

My son ended up in the hospital with rotavirus at 7 mos. and almost died because he was losing fluid so quickly out both ends- I had never even heard of rotavirus. So he was rushed to thehospital and put on IVs for a couple of days until his stools were normal and he could drink. As horrible and scary as that was I WOULD NOT give this vaccine and have not given any to my other 2 children- (they have never had this virus). The vaccines are not only not effective, but can cause the illness itself and does not produce immunity. The ingredients and side effects of the vaccine scare me a lot worse than them getting it naturally.

Julie

[newclementine]

Well we decided not to get the vax and I'm so happy with the decision. The babay is too old now (14 weeks, ieast 12) and it's just too sketchy to do it at all IMO, and then to do it against reccommendations seems even worse. Pluse he is BF and does not go to daycare, I'm at home with him and will be until about 1 year.

I had rotav, I'm pretty sure, two years ago. I was (is) a teacher and got it from being around all of those germy kids all day. It was terrible. really bad. Hopefully we won't have to go through that in our house any time soon.

Just a question, if anyone is following up on the thread. Why is it worse if it is a live vaccine? Is it just that the baby might get sick and that it sheds? Or is there more?