rotavirus vaccination

[Anonymous]

I just found out that my former pediatrician didn't give my son this vaccination series. What gives? Is this optional or something. FTM (obviously).

[Anonymous]

I think it's relatively new. I would not forgo it though. I hate pukeritis.

[Anonymous]

I'm a pediatrician and I find that very odd. It's in the recommended series if childhood vaccines and it prevents a very common illness that in many babies, leads to dehydration (which can lead to ER visits, hospitalization, lost days od work, etc). Rarely, dehydration can cause death. In some children, Rota causes intuscception. The old vaccine was linked to intuscception as well, but the current vaccine does not have that side effect.

I'd be so interested to hear why your ped doesn't offer it.

[Anonymous]

New ped tells me DS is too old for it now. I'm so angry!!!!

[Anonymous]

Well it was taken off the market for several years -- how old is your child? Perhaps when he was age appropriate for it is when the vaccine was off the market. FWIW, my son had a HORRIBLE reaction to it. To the point that we skipped the last two shots. Though I am aware that is not common.

[Anonymous]

That is pretty strange. Was it skipped accidentally?

I'm also curious about why...it is a safe, orally administered vaccine. And I'd be super annoyed.

[Anonymous]

That is odd. Both rotavirus vaccines have been on and off the market over the past several years, due to safety concerns, but even when one has been recalled the other has been available. And it's correct they won't give the vaccine to a child beyond age 1 or 2 or something, as it is only approved for a specific age group.

FWIW, I declined the RV vaccine for both of my children. My 12-month-old did get rotavirus, and we managed it at home just fine with round-the-clock breastfeeding and Pedialyte.

You might ask the doctor for a copy of your child's immunization record to make sure they didn't miss others so that, if you choose, you can get your child caught up.

[Anonymous]

NP here. We did not get it at first, with the approval of our pediatrician, because we were spacing out the first rounds of vaccines to see how DS reacted (he was small and we have a large allergy/autoimmune history in our family). I was a FTM and was home with him, so there was no exposure to other children. Once he was bigger and we'd gone through all the more important vaccines, I raised it again with her and she also said he was "too old" to need it. Again, I was still home with him so the odds of him getting it were extremely small. What she meant by "too old" was that he was big enough that even if he got it, it was unlikely to make him seriously ill or dehydrated. Basically, it would just be a "regular" sickness and not something that would lead to the hospital. She emphasized that if DS was going to be going to daycare or we had older children in school she would have recommended it. I trust her judgment.

[Anonymous]

The receptionist said they don't give the vaccination because it was subject to too many recalls. I'm waiting for a call back from the doctor. I can't understand why this wasn't raised for me to make the decision for myself as to whether the vaccination would be appropriate or not.

[Anonymous]

My sister had only her third child vaccinated against RV (it wasn't offered when her older children were that age), and he was the only one who wasn't constantly sick with some tummy bug after he entered daycare. So I wouldn't skip it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The receptionist said they don't give the vaccination because it was subject to too many recalls. I'm waiting for a call back from the doctor. I can't understand why this wasn't raised for me to make the decision for myself as to whether the vaccination would be appropriate or not.

Ped again: Interesting. I haven't heard about any recalls on the new rotavirus vaccine. Please update when the dr. calls back.

[Anonymous]

And FWIW, the practice is Washington Pediatric Assoc.

[Anonymous]

Please reply back. DS is due to get his rotavirus vac tomorrow and now I am a little worried if Washington Pediatric Assoc does not feel comfortable with the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I spoke with the doctor, who said that she does not offer the vaccination because it has been subject to recalls and adverse reactions. One of her patients had a severe adverse reaction that required hospitalization. She said that the vaccination was not needed in this community and is more appropriate for developing countries. She said that I should have received a handout on vaccinations at some point, which would have explained everything (I did not -- nor do I think that is the appropriate method of communication regarding such an important topic). She apologized for the lack of communication.

[Anonymous]

^^ I would change PEDs. We go through enough anxiety as parents over the whole vaccination thing than to do deal with a loosey goosey pediatrician. My DD wasn't offered the vac, but her brother born three years later was given it. Luckily, when the bug hit the whole fam. DD didn't get it very bad. Just diarrhea. It put me in the hospital.