Recommendations for rotavirus vaccine.

Abstract

Rotavirus infection has been the leading cause of gastroenteritis among children in Taiwan. Studies have shown that 40% of hospitalization for acute gastroenteritis can be prevented through the use of vaccines, including a live, attenuated monovalent rotavirus vaccine and a pentavalent, human-bovine reassortant rotavirus vaccine. In 2009, the World Health Organization suggested that rotavirus vaccine should be included in all national immunization programs. This review summarizes issues and recommendations discussed during an expert meeting in Taiwan. The recommendations included: (1) rotavirus vaccine should be offered to all healthy infants (including those without contraindications, such as immunodeficiency) at an appropriate age; (2) either monovalent or pentavalent vaccine can be administered concurrently with routine injected vaccines; (3) the administration of rotavirus vaccine must be administered at least 2 weeks prior to oral polio vaccination; (4) the first vaccine dose for infants should be administered between age 6 weeks and age 14 weeks 6 days and the course should be completed by age 8 months 0 day; (5) pentavalent vaccines can be administered at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months while monovalent vaccines can be taken at 2 months and 4 months; (6) a combined use of monovalent and pentavalent vaccine is justified only when the previous dose is unavailable or unknown; and (7) rotavirus vaccines may be given to premature infants, human immunodeficiency virus infected infants and infants who have received or are going to receive blood products.

• Authors: Ping-Ing Lee, Po-Yen Chen, Yhu-Chering Huang, Chin-Yun Lee, Chun-Yi Lu, Mei-Hwei Chang, Yung-Zen Lin, Nan-Chang Chiu, Yen-Hsuan Ni, Chung-Ming Chen, Luan-Yin Chang, Ren-Bin Tang, Li-Min Huang, Yung-Feng Huang, Kao-Pin Hwang, Betau Hwang, Tzou-Yien Lin
• Journal: Pediatrics and neonatology (Pediatr Neonatol) Vol. 54 Issue 6 Pg. 355-9 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 2212-1692 [Electronic] Singapore
• PMID: 23746943 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Chemical References

• Rotavirus Vaccines

Topics

• Humans
• Immunization Schedule
• Infant
• Rotavirus Infections (prevention & control)
• Rotavirus Vaccines (administration & dosage)
• Taiwan
• Vaccination