Why your baby needs the rotavirus vaccine at the right time

To protect your baby from rotavirus diarrhoea, talk to your doctor about giving the oral vaccine at the “golden window”: starting early, from 6 weeks of age. This is the best time to effectively prevent one of the most dangerous illnesses in young children. Many parents still miss the schedule for their baby's oral rotavirus vaccine because they bring their baby in too late. Below are the benefits of giving your baby the rotavirus vaccine early, and whether rotavirus is dangerous. Content reviewed by Dr Nguyễn Thanh Duy (Specialist Level I), founder of Care For Kids Paediatric Clinic.

Is rotavirus dangerous?

• Rotavirus causes diarrhoea in most newborns and young children. The diarrhoea can become severe and lead to dehydration. Rotavirus also often causes vomiting and fever in young children.
• In the US, before the vaccine was available, rotavirus disease was a common, serious health problem in young children. Most American children were infected with rotavirus at least once before 5 months of age.

Before the vaccine was available, every year:

• More than 400,000 young children had to see a doctor for rotavirus illness

• More than 200,000 needed emergency care, 55,000 to 70,000 were admitted to hospital, and there were 20 to 60 deaths.

• Since the vaccine against rotavirus diarrhoea and hospitalisation came into use, the number of children needing hospital admission and emergency care for rotavirus has fallen significantly.

The rotavirus vaccine is unusual because it has a very short window for vaccination. If the “golden window" for the oral rotavirus vaccine is missed, your child loses the chance of lifelong protection from the vaccine, leaving them at risk of acute diarrhoea with unpredictable complications. We hope this Momby article helps you better understand acute rotavirus diarrhoea and why it matters to give newborns the oral rotavirus vaccine at the right time.

Reference:

Clinical Trial Centre, Pasteur Institute (Ho Chi Minh City)