Rotavirus vaccination

and Sabine Schrör, medical journalist

Sophie Matzik is a freelance writer for the medical team.

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Sabine Schrör is a freelance writer for the medical team. She studied business administration and public relations in Cologne. As a freelance editor, she has been at home in a wide variety of industries for more than 15 years. Health is one of her favorite subjects.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

A rotavirus vaccination is the only way to protect yourself from infection with rotaviruses. These germs cause diarrhea, especially in children. The high fluid loss caused by diarrhea and fever can be life-threatening under certain circumstances. Rotavirus vaccination has been approved in Germany since 2006. Since then, the number of new infections has decreased significantly. Read everything you need to know about the rotavirus vaccination here.

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. A08

Rotavirus vaccination: description

There are two vaccines available in Germany for rotavirus vaccination. In both cases it is a so-called oral vaccination. This means that the rotavirus vaccination is given to babies or toddlers by mouth (orally) rather than as a syringe.

In addition, the rotavirus vaccination is a so-called live vaccination: the vaccine contains contagious but weakened rotaviruses. These do not lead to illness. However, they stimulate the body's immune system to produce specific defense substances (antibodies) against the intruder. If an infection with "real" rotaviruses occurs later, the body can fight this faster and better. The outbreak of the disease can often be prevented or at least weakened.

Rotavirus vaccination: cost

The STIKO (Standing Vaccination Commission at the Robert Koch Institute) has been recommending rotavirus vaccination for infants since 2013. Accordingly, all statutory health insurance companies are obliged to fully cover the costs of the rotavirus vaccination for this age group. If you are privately insured, you can find out from your health insurance company to what extent the vaccination costs are covered.

Rotavirus vaccination: baby and toddler

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommends the rotavirus vaccination as early as infancy. Vomiting diarrhea usually occurs between six and 24 months of age, so vaccination should be given as early as possible. Depending on the rotavirus vaccine used, two or three doses are given.

In addition, depending on the vaccine, different recommendations for starting vaccination apply:

• The rotavirus vaccination with the two-dose scheme should be completed by the 16th week of life and must be completed by the 24th week of life.
• The rotavirus vaccination with the three-dose scheme should be completed by the 22nd week of life and must be completed by the 32nd week of life.

The individual vaccine doses must be given at least four weeks apart.It is easiest to have the rotavirus vaccination carried out between the three preventive examinations U3, U4 and U5. The rotavirus vaccination can be carried out at the same time as other vaccinations.

Infants and babies are at risk of coughing up or vomiting up after they have been given the oral vaccine. If only a small part is coughed up, no new vaccination is required. However, if the infant regurgitates most of the vaccine, they can be vaccinated again.

With the rotavirus vaccination, you should not breastfeed shortly before and shortly after vaccination. Doctors suspect that certain components of breast milk reduce the effectiveness of the vaccination and that rotavirus disease could occur despite vaccination.

Rotavirus vaccination: adults?

Rotavirus vaccination for adults is not available. The two vaccines currently available are only approved for children up to the age of 24 and 32 weeks respectively. Rotavirus vaccination is not as important for adults as it is for children. Adults tend to get sick much more easily with rotavirus infection. In addition, adults develop a certain contingent of defense substances (antibodies) against rotaviruses in the course of their lives. Antibodies are formed again with each new infection. Adults are thus better protected from infection in childhood than unvaccinated children and infants, even without a rotavirus vaccination.

Rotavirus vaccination: side effects

The rotavirus vaccination, like any other vaccination - and any other drug - can cause undesirable effects. The most common side effects after a rotavirus vaccination include diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. These reactions arise directly from contact with the weakened rotaviruses. In contrast to the symptoms of a real rotavirus infection, however, they are only weakly pronounced and disappear again after a few days. In some cases, there is also abdominal pain or gas.

The older children are given the rotavirus vaccination, the higher the risk of side effects. Therefore, the rotavirus vaccination should be fully completed by the recommended times. The greatest risk is an invagination of the intestine, which can be caused by the rotavirus vaccination in ways that have not yet been clarified. This risk increases with age. At present, the risk of a bowel invagination (bowel invagination) is estimated at one to two people per 100,000 vaccinated.

Special recommendations apply to immature premature babies. The protection of the rotavirus vaccination is particularly important for them, as they are very susceptible to infections. On the other hand, they can also be much more sensitive to the vaccine. In some cases there was short pauses in breathing. Premature babies should therefore always be vaccinated in the hospital and remain there for some time after the vaccination for monitoring.

Rotavirus vaccination: yes or no?

In general, when it comes to the rotavirus vaccination, the recommendation to vaccinate is valid for every child from the age of six weeks. Doctors suspect that vaccination can prevent almost 80 percent of all gastrointestinal infections in children - at least for a period of two to three seasons. However, the rotavirus vaccination cannot prevent vomiting diarrhea caused by other viruses or bacteria.

There are some situations in which rotavirus vaccination should not be given. This is the case with a proven immune deficiency, with hypersensitivity or intolerance to one of the vaccines contained, with intestinal invasions and with the presence of an acute illness that requires treatment (such as fever or diarrhea).

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