Rotavirus Vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent solution

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What is rotavirus vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent solution?

ROTAVIRUS VACCINE, LIVE, ORAL, PENTAVALENT SOLUTION (RotaTeq®), helps to prevent infection with the rotavirus, a viral illness that commonly occurs in young children. Natural infection with the rotavirus can cause watery diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and dehydration. This can be severe enough to require hospitalization for some children. Not all diarrheal illnesses are caused by the rotavirus. Rotavirus vaccination will usually begin at 6 weeks of age and will be completed by the time an infant is 6—8 months of age. In the United States, severe rotavirus illness is uncommon in children older than 2, and it is rare in healthy adults.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you or your infant has any of these conditions:
• recent diarrhea or vomiting
• has not been gaining weight
• was born with stomach problems, has a blockage of the stomach, or has had stomach surgery
• has a blood disorder or has received a blood transfusion or blood products in the last 42 days
• an immune deficiency or a weakened immune system (natural or due to cancer, cancer chemotherapy, radiation, or steroid therapy) or a person with immune deficiency lives in your household
• fever or infection.
• HIV infection, or a person with HIV lives in your household
• an unusual or allergic reaction to rotavirus vaccine, other vaccines, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Rotavirus vaccine is given to your infant by a health-care professional. The use of this vaccine must be officially recorded. Federal law requires that the manufacturer's name and lot number; name, address, and phone number of the person giving the vaccine; and the date of administration be recorded in the patient's permanent medical record. The vaccine solution will be administered directly into the infants mouth. The infant can have food or milk or can breast feed before or after the vaccine. This vaccine must never be given by injection, it is for use by mouth only.

Precautions for use in children: Use of oral rotavirus vaccine is not recommended in babies under 6 weeks old. Infants generally receive three doses, given between 6 weeks and 8 months of age.

Your health care professional will give you an informational paper on the rotavirus vaccine at the time of the vaccination. Be sure to read this information.

What drug(s) may interact with rotavirus vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent solution?

• immune globulin treatments
• medicines that suppress your immune function

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol; if you smoke; or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

Rotavirus vaccine does not interfere with some of the other vaccines that are commonly given in children, like diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP), inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (Hib), hepatitis B vaccine, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. In some cases more than one type of vaccine can be given to your child at the same time. Ask your health care provider if you have questions regarding the administration of more than one vaccine to your child.

What should I watch for while taking rotavirus vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent solution?

Report any side effects to your prescriber or health care professional that do not go away within 3 days. There is a very small risk of passing the virus to someone else. Ask your health care professional about immunization for other family members.

A mild fever or cold by itself it not always reason to delay receiving the vaccine. Your health care provider will determine if it is appropriate for the vaccine to be given if a cold or mild fever is present.

After your infant has a dose of rotavirus vaccine, the virus from the vaccine can be shed in the infant's feces (stool) or from the infant's mouth. Avoid those who have a weakened immune system, or pregnant or breast-feeding women. Make sure you wash your hands well after going to the bathroom, or after changing a diaper for an infant that has received the vaccine.

What side effects may I notice from taking rotavirus vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent solution?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional immediately:
• blood in stools or changes in bowel movements
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• vomiting

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
• difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing
• decreased activity
• decreased appetite, not wanting to breast-feed or take a bottle
• extreme irritability
• seizures (convulsions or strange movements of the arms or legs)
• severe rash, itching (hives)
• swelling of the eyes or face
• unusual or increased crying, or sudden change in alertness
• fever over 102 degrees F
Call your health care provider if any of these symptoms occur within 4 weeks of vaccination of your infant.

Side effects that usually do not require immediate medical attention (report these side effects to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• mild fever, below 102 degrees F

Where can I keep my medicine?

Each dose of this vaccine will be administered in the clinic or office of a health care professional. You will not be given vaccine doses to store at home.

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.