Question
Rota virus vaccine.
Answer
Rotavirus vaccine is a live attenuated oral vaccine protecting against rotavirus infection, the leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhoea in infants and young children worldwide.
Types: monovalent (e.g., Rotarix, based on a single attenuated human strain) and pentavalent (e.g., RotaTeq, a human-bovine reassortant vaccine covering multiple serotypes); India also has indigenously developed rotavirus vaccines (e.g., ROTAVAC) as part of its Universal Immunization Programme.
Schedule: given orally in 2–3 doses in early infancy (e.g., at 6, 10, and 14 weeks, alongside other routine vaccines), with the first dose given within a defined age window (to minimize the small residual risk of intussusception associated with rotavirus vaccination, which is highest if the first dose is given too late).
Mechanism: as a live attenuated vaccine given orally, it stimulates local intestinal mucosal immunity (secretory IgA) as well as systemic immunity, closely mimicking natural infection.
Public health significance: has dramatically reduced hospitalizations and mortality from severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in countries with high vaccine coverage, particularly important in reducing childhood mortality in developing countries.
Safety consideration: a small increased risk of intussusception has been associated with rotavirus vaccination (particularly with earlier, now-withdrawn vaccine formulations), leading to age restrictions on the timing of the first and subsequent doses in current recommendations.