According to the American Academy of Pediatrics,
every year prior to the rotavirus vaccine being available:
• More than 400,000 young children had to see a doctor for illness caused by rotavirus,
• More than 200,000 had to go to the emergency room,
• 55,000 to 70,000 had to be hospitalized, and
• 20 to 60 died.
• More than 400,000 young children had to see a doctor for illness caused by rotavirus,
• More than 200,000 had to go to the emergency room,
• 55,000 to 70,000 had to be hospitalized, and
• 20 to 60 died.
A study that was recently
published shows that since the vaccine has been available, there has been a
significant drop in the number of young children hospitalized with diarrhea,
vomiting, and dehydration. After vaccination began, hospitalization rates for
rotavirus fell by 70 percent in 2008, 63 percent in 2009, 90 percent in 2010
and 94 percent in 2012.
While the vaccine protects
individual children from getting rotavirus, herd immunity also plays an
important role. According to the study’s researchers, “Herd immunity occurs when a
child’s chance of coming into contact with a germ drops because so many other
people are also immune to the bug, and are therefore not passing it on.” Since
infants are routinely vaccinated against rotavirus, the virus is no longer as
common as it once was. As a result, children who cannot be vaccinated because
of allergies or underlying medical conditions are protected from getting the
virus as well.
The rotavirus vaccine is given
in either two or three doses at 2, 4, and 6 months (if necessary) of age. Your
baby should get the first dose of rotavirus vaccine before 15 weeks of age, and
the last by age 8 months. Although the vaccine prevents diarrhea associated
with rotavirus, it will not prevent diarrhea or vomiting caused by other germs.
So proper hand-washing is still important.
Questions? Send them to AskUs@marchofdimes.org.
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