What the rotavirus vaccine protects your baby from
Rotavirus is a viral infection that causes diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. It most often affects pēpi (babies) and young children. Some tamariki get so sick they need to go to hospital.
Immunisation against rotavirus will protect around 8 out of 10 babies from severe rotavirus infection. Almost all children who are not immunised get a rotavirus infection before they are 5 years old.
Find out more about symptoms, causes, and treatment.
When to get the rotavirus vaccine
The rotavirus vaccine is offered to babies for free when they are 6 weeks and 3 months old. Your pēpi (baby) needs 2 doses to be fully protected.
The first dose must be given before your baby turns 15 weeks old, and the second dose before they are 25 weeks old.
Which vaccine is used
The vaccine we use in Aotearoa New Zealand is Rotarix.
It is given as liquid drops into your baby's mouth which they swallow. The vaccine contains a weakened form of rotavirus. It is very effective and has an excellent safety record.
Side effects and reactions
Like most medicines, vaccines can sometimes cause reactions. These are usually mild, and not everyone will get them.
Mild reactions are normal and show that your baby’s immune system is responding to the vaccine.
If your pēpi is going to have any reactions, they normally happen in the first few days after getting vaccinated. The vaccine itself is gone from your baby’s body within a few hours or days.
Common reactions
The most common reaction to the rotavirus vaccine is a slight fever.
Other common reactions to the rotavirus vaccine include:
- not feeding as usual
- crying, being upset, and hard to settle
- runny poos within 7 days (mild diarrhoea)
- vomiting within 7 days
- tummy pain.
Serious reactions
An extremely rare side effect of the vaccine is called intussusception. This causes a blockage of the intestine.
Contact your doctor or healthcare professional immediately if your baby experiences any of these symptoms after immunisation:
- severe stomach pain
- persistent vomiting
- blood in poos (stools)
- a swollen belly
- high fever (39°C and over).
Allergic reactions
Serious allergic reactions are extremely rare. Only about 1 in a million people will experience this.
Your vaccinator is well-trained and knows what to look for and can treat an allergic reaction quickly if it happens.
Serious allergic reactions normally happen within the first few minutes of vaccination. This is why you need to wait for up to 20 minutes after immunisation.
Call 111 if you are worried your baby is having a serious allergic reaction.
More information
Find more information about common side effects, what to look for and how to report side effects.