To be performed within 24-32 weeks of life (the exact timing depends on the type of vaccine used), the rotavirus vaccine is an effective preparation with minimal risk of adverse effects.
Today, in Europe (including Italy), two types of rotavirus vaccine are available: Rotarix, which provides two dosages, and RotaTeq, which is divided into 3 dosages.
Administered orally, the rotavirus vaccine contains a share of live, but weakened virus: in this way, it stimulates the production of antibodies, but does not cause rotavirus-related gastroenteritis.
The rotavirus vaccine has a number of important contraindications, which must be respected to avoid complications.
Rotavirus is known to be the leading cause of diarrhea and, more generally, gastroenteritis, in infants and children.
To date, virologists have identified 8 species of rotavirus and identified them with the first 8 capital letters of the alphabet, then A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H; of these 8 species recognized so far, the species A (rotavirus A) is the most widespread: in fact, it is responsible for 90% of so-called rotavirus infections.
Rotavirus is mainly transmitted by the fecal-oral route; however, transmission by contact with contaminated objects and transmission by aerosols are also possible (ie via droplets of salive emitted during sneezing, coughing, when speaking, etc.).
What are the Symptoms of a "Rotavirus Infection?
In younger people, rotavirus infections last 3 to 8 days and typically manifest with:
- Watery diarrhea;
- He retched;
- Abdominal pain
- Fever.
In the absence of adequate hydration of the little patient, rotavirus infections can cause a state of very dangerous, sometimes fatal, dehydration.
In adolescents and adults, on the other hand, the rotavirus is decidedly less aggressive; in fact, sometimes it can cause asymptomatic infections.
against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B e Haemophilus influenzae type B).
Why take the Anti Rotavirus Vaccine?
In the youngest, especially among those aged between 6 and 24 months, rotavirus can cause a form of gastroenteritis with watery diarrhea discharges, such as to establish a state of dehydration; in such small subjects, dehydration is a very dangerous condition, which can even be fatal if the therapy lacks timeliness.
If the conditions exist to administer it, the rotavirus vaccine is an effective and safe method to prevent the aforementioned occurrence, which explains why pediatricians and the Ministry of Health strongly recommend it.
According to some estimates, every year, in the world, the rotavirus is responsible for 25 million medical visits, 2 million hospital admissions and 600,000,000 deaths; on deaths, it should be noted that they mainly concern children under the age of 5 and from developing countries, where the rotavirus vaccination campaign is not yet at the forefront (according to the WHO, in these countries, rotavirus infections in children represent a "health emergency).
Rotavirus infections pose a threat especially to people between the ages of 6 and 24 months.
capable of activating the immune system and inducing it to produce specific antibodies.
In immunology, any foreign substance capable of activating the immune system is called an antigen.
In the case of attenuated vaccines, antigens are essentially parts of the infectious agent against which immunity is to be created, deprived in the laboratory of the ability to cause related infection.
Antibodies, on the other hand, are proteins that the immune system of the human organism produces every time it comes into contact with an antigen and which serve to neutralize the latter, in the immediate and also in the future, on the occasion of a possible second exposure to the same. antigen.
Thanks to the rotavirus vaccine, therefore, antibodies against rotavirus are created, exploiting parts of the latter that are harmless, but still sufficient to stimulate the immune system.
of the rotavirus vaccine is by mouth; the preparation, in fact, is presented in a suspension to be taken by mouth.For the administration of the rotavirus vaccine, a special oral applicator with plunger is usually used.
Dosage of the Anti Rotavirus Vaccine
The administration of the rotavirus vaccine is divided into several dosages; this means that the patient receives the preparation on several different occasions.
For the RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine, the administration cycle consists of 3 doses, must be completed by the 32th week of life and must follow the following schedule:
- The first dose between the 6th and 12th week of life (usually done at 2 months);
- The second dose at least 4 weeks after the first (usually it is done at 4 months);
- The third dose at least 4 weeks after the second (usually done at 6 months).
For the Rotarix rotavirus vaccine, on the other hand, the administration cycle includes 2 dosages, must be completed within the 24th week of life and must follow the following schedule:
- The first dose between the 6th and 12th week of life (usually done at 2 months);
- The second dose at least 4 weeks after the first (usually performed at 4 months).
These are transient disturbances, which last a few days, and which should not worry, unless they are particularly severe and protracted over time.
To alleviate the fever following the rotavirus vaccine, the pediatrician may indicate the use of an antipyretic such as tachipirina for children.
Among the less common adverse effects of the rotavirus vaccine, allergic reactions to one of the components of the drug preparation undoubtedly stand out.
Allergic reactions to the rotavirus vaccine occur within minutes of vaccination (which is why parents, after administration of the preparation, are asked to stay another 20-30 minutes at the vaccine center) and include symptoms and signs such as: difficulty in sucking, weakness, hoarseness, stridor, difficulty in breathing, tachycardia and / or paleness.
After the rotavirus vaccine, in the presence of symptoms or signs of an allergic reaction, it is good to contact a doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital.
Does Anti Rotavirus Vaccine Cause Intestinal Invagination?
Albeit to a limited extent, the first rotavirus vaccines proved to be risk factors for intestinal intussusception; also known as intussusception, intestinal invagination is a pathology characterized by the sliding of a section of intestine inside another immediately adjacent one, which, precisely due to the aforementioned sliding phenomenon, can cause intestinal blockage.
In light of this, the manufacturers of these vaccines have had to perfect the drug preparation in order to make it safer.
Considering the various tests and the results of these, the work of perfecting the rotavirus vaccine carried out in the last decade seems to have been successful: if the calendar of administrations is respected, in fact, the new versions of the vaccine in question do not increase significantly. significant risk of developing intestinal intussusception.
Tests on the new rotavirus vaccines involved a comparison with a placebo: the comparison showed that intestinal intussusception occurred among vaccinated infants, as much as among infants treated with placebo, thus demonstrating that vaccination had no influence on the appearance of the problem.
Adverse Effects of Rotavirus Vaccine in Premature Babies
Clinical studies have shown that, in premature babies, the rotavirus vaccine could cause, in a completely temporary way, respiratory apnea phenomena (consisting of short pauses in breathing); in this regard, pediatricians advise parents to monitor the baby's breathing during the first three days following vaccination.
Anti Rotavirus Vaccine: Warnings for Parents
Contact with the feces of a child who has recently undergone an anti-rotavirus vaccine could cause episodes of diarrhea and abdominal pain (remember that the main transmission of rotavirus is the fecal-oral one).
This explains why, at the time of vaccination, the medical staff advises parents to wash their hands thoroughly after each time, over the next 10-15 days, they have changed the baby's diaper.
When to postpone the Rotavirus Vaccine?
The rotavirus vaccine is a practice to be postponed to another date when the child suffers, probably due to an infection, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
However, there is no need to postpone it if the child suffers from a cold or cough.
