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Indications
- Prevention of gastroenteritis due to rotavirus infection in infants
Composition, forms, route of administration
- Live-attenuated monovalent human rotavirus vaccine (RV1, strain RIX4414, Rotarix®)
- Oral suspension, 1.5 ml in monodose plastic tube.
DO NOT ADMINISTER BY PARENTERAL ROUTE.
Dosage and vaccination schedule
- Child from 6 weeks to 24 months: 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart. It is recommended to administer the 1st dose at 6 weeks of age and the 2nd dose at 10 weeks of age, at the same time as the first 2 doses of pentavalent vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae).
- Shake the plastic tube, squeeze the entire content of the tube into the mouth.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer in case of acute gastroenteritis, history of intussusception, severe immunodeficiency.
- Do not administer in the event of allergic reactions to a previous dose of vaccine.
- Vaccination should be postponed in the event of severe acute febrile illness; minor infections are not contra-indications.
- May cause: diarrhoea,abdominal pain, irritability; rarely: intussusception, anaphylactic reactions.
- If the patient vomits the dose of vaccine, wait a few minutes and re-administer the same dose.
Remarks
- Also comes in a monovalent human vaccine (RV1, strain 116E, Rotavac®) and pentavalent human-bovine vaccine (RV5), to be administered in 3 doses 4 week apart.
- Rotavirus vaccine can be administered concomitantly with oral polio vaccine (OPV).
Storage
– Between 2 °C and 8 °C. Do not freeze.