Pēpi can have the rotavirus vaccine as part of their free 6 week and 3 month immunisations.
Pēpi need 2 doses for full protection against rotavirus.
If you miss the 6 week and 3 month immunisations, you can catch up. But your baby needs the first rotavirus vaccine before 15 weeks of age and the second dose before they're 25 weeks old.
Your baby can't have the rotavirus vaccine after 25 weeks because the risk of serious reactions increases after this age.
Your baby will have the rotavirus vaccine as liquid drops into their mouth which they swallow.
The most common reaction to the rotavirus vaccine is a slight fever.
Some other common reactions to the rotavirus vaccine
Serious reactions
There is a small risk of intussusception from receiving rotavirus immunisation, usually in the first week after immunisation.
Intussusception is a rare condition where one part of the bowel slides inside the next (like a telescope) and causes a blockage.
The overall benefits of immunisation far outweigh the very small risk of intussusception.
Check some information about intussusception [1]
Contact your doctor or healthcare professional immediately if your baby has any of the following symptoms after immunisation.
Tummy pain
Severe crying caused by tummy pain. The pain may be colicky and not continuous, but it comes back often. Your baby may draw their knees to their chest while crying.
Vomiting
The vomit can become green (caused by bile in the vomit).
Blood in the poo
The poo may have the appearance of 'redcurrant jelly', which is a mix of mucus, cells and blood.
Other symptoms
This page last reviewed 15 March 2021.
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Links
[1] https://kidshealth.org.nz/intussusception
[2] https://kidshealth.org.nz/tags/immunisation
[3] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1731
[4] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1732
[5] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1730
[6] https://kidshealth.org.nz/node/1556
[7] https://kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fkidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1727