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Original poster

Rotavirus Vaccine

31 replies

zeerecords · 18/09/2021 10:24

I'm FTM and my sons 8 week vaccines are soon and I'm considering rejecting the rotavirus vaccine (accepting 6-1 and men b).

Reasons being:

The nhs website stating that most children that get it recover at home within a week. So the rotavirus itself being relatively mild and not a danger to life.

The effectiveness of vaccine - as I know vaccines are not 100% effective but the data on this particular vaccine seems that it is less effective than others.

not wanting to overload their immune system.

Baby is breastfed so this offers some protection and eases recovery if they do get it.

I'm not anti vax by any means and will be accepting all other vaccines but haven't heard of rotavirus one before and my sisters little boy didn't have it when he was born in 2015.

Just after some advice really on whether I should get it or not and if anyone else said no to it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Poppy709 · 18/09/2021 12:01

I got it and would get it with another baby, the reason they introduced a vaccine is because it’s not in common for babies to be admitted to hospital with rotavirus for fluids as they can easily become dehydrated. We are lucky that new vaccines for rotavirus and men b are now available.

Poppy709 · 18/09/2021 12:01

*not uncommon

PoppityPop · 18/09/2021 12:05

When my DC was a baby I got norovirus which was so bad I had to be hospitalised. My husband came down with it 48 hours later and was also very ill. I was convinced our 6 month old would also get it as it’s so contagious, but they didn’t. The doctor said that the rotavirus vaccine has probably helped them to avoid it.
Doctors and scientists recommended things for a reason, not for fun. Most children might recover quickly at home, but what if yours is one of the ones who doesn’t?

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Babies & sleep Children's health Families General health

LakeFlyPie · 18/09/2021 12:06

The vaccine wasn't available when my DC were tiny but I wouldn't hesitate now. DS2 was extremely poorly with it (he was EBF at the time)

Wagglerock · 18/09/2021 12:06

From the NHS website: "Rotavirus is a highly infectious stomach bug that typically affects babies and young children, causing diarrhoea and vomiting, tummy ache and a high temperature."

I'm not sure why any one would risk that when there's a safe vaccine available. Yeah, most might get better in a week but a week is a long time with a poorly baby. And as PP said babies and children end up in hospital with dehydration caused by it (and other stomach bugs).

FlamesEmbersAshes · 18/09/2021 12:11

My DD was born before the rotavirus vaccine was available. She contracted rotavirus at 10 months and rapidly (scarily rapidly) became very ill indeed. She spent several days in hospital and had to be rehydrated - which believe me, was very distressing for her and for me.

She also had a dodgy tummy for several months afterwards because the virus can disrupt normal gut bacteria.

I have DD2 the vaccine without hesitation and would do so again.

FlamesEmbersAshes · 18/09/2021 12:12

Oh and DD was EBF (until solids were introduced) too.

user1496146479 · 18/09/2021 12:13

I'm not antibvax but......

Rotavirus can be really dangerous for small children. Be thankful medicine can benefit our children.
Get the vaccine

worksleep · 18/09/2021 12:14

We got it. My daughter still got rotavirus at 11 months and it was terrible. The doctor said she must have been unlucky and picked up a strain not covered by the vaccine. I would consider getting it done as the actual virus is awful.

Fanfix · 18/09/2021 12:15

Please get the vaccine for your LO. Why would you rather her/him suffer unnecessarily for a week when there's a safe vaccine available? You'll also help stop the spread.

halcyondays · 18/09/2021 12:18

Overloading the immune system from vaccines isn’t a thing. This vaccine wasn’t around when mine were young but if I had babies now I’d want them to have it.

Poppy709 · 18/09/2021 12:18

Also my baby was EBF until 6 months and still breastfed now at one, he caught a different virus a few weeks ago and we were still admitted to hospital and he needed fluids, breastfeeding is not a guarantee that a baby won’t get dehydrated or very ill, trust me getting fluids into a baby via cannula or NG tube is very distressing and something you will want to avoid

Twizbe · 18/09/2021 12:20

Get it done. Overloading their immune system isn't a thing.

Also it's a quick drop in the mouth. Much easier than dealing with any vomiting bug. Especially one that could land you in hospital for dehydration.

Just do it OP.

Chemenger · 18/09/2021 12:20

Basically from what you are saying you would rather take the chance that your baby was ill for a week than have the vaccine. Ignoring the fact that if most recover at home in a week that means some don’t, as PPs have demonstrated. Not what I would have chosen for my babies but it’s up to you.

Icytundra · 18/09/2021 12:21

I don't see a reason not to get it in your post. Just protect your baby.

NannyOggsward · 18/09/2021 12:24

Rotavirus vaccine wasn’t a thing for my older 2, for DD3 I rejected it (the only one I rejected).

At the time I think it was part of the “trial” stage and one of the potential side effects 1 in 1000 was twisted gut, which is very serious. The numbers didn’t stack up.

As that was 7 years ago, if those side effects are dealt with and minimised I may make a different choice.

redroses86 · 18/09/2021 12:27

My DD also got a stomach bug at 10 months and was hospitalised with dehydration. They really do go downhill much more quickly then adults do. This was in 2014, before the vaccine was available.
My second DD got the vaccine. Your baby should to. There’s a reason the vaccine is there, the NHS aren’t just wasting money for the fun of it.

nameisnotimportant · 18/09/2021 12:27

Please do a bit more reading and get the vaccine. Rotavirus is serious and the nhs would not vaccinate against a disease that posed no risk. I have nursed babies with rotavirus and they are extremely unwell and children can die from it. It can also cause long lasting damage to the gut.

Not all vaccines are 100% effective but they are a hell of a lot more effective than not vaccinating and hoping for the best.

You won't overload their immune system as that isn't how the immune system works. The vaccine provides a minuscule amount of the virus, so that your body can make B cells which are antibodies. Then when your child comes into contact with the virus, the B cells are ready and can active the T cells to fight the virus. This is what the immune system is designed to do. Making B cells from a vaccine does not overload the immune system, as they are not fighting off the virus, they are just preparing the immune system to fight it in the future.

Breastfeeding provides antibodies which you provide to your child. So if you have previously had Rotavirus then you may provide the antibody for it. However there is no guarantee from this.

It is a newer vaccine but has been through all the usual clinical trials as all the other vaccines.

Just like anything you could not get it and just hope for the best and hope he won't catch it but I'm sure plenty of parents whose children have caught rotavirus probably thought their child wouldn't get it either and that they would be fine.

mynameiscalypso · 18/09/2021 12:30

If it wasn't worth it, the NHS wouldn't offer it. They don't, for example, offer the chicken pox vaccine. Given they are pretty risk and cost conscious, I trust that they offer it for a reason.

jupitermars1345 · 18/09/2021 12:31

I'd just get it done
Much better than getting the actual infection.
My baby has had the 8 and 12 week dose
No/to very mild side effects for us . Completely worth it

liveforsummer · 18/09/2021 12:34

I refused as at the tone in the country I was in it was optional therefore needed paid for and on looking it up I came to similar conclusions to you. Neither dc have had so much as a 12 hour sickness bug in their lives so for me it was the right choice.

InglouriousBasterd · 18/09/2021 12:37

Ah I’d reconsider if I was in your position. DD had it when she was a baby pre vaccine and the poor thing was so unwell, even without needing hospitalisation. She would have diarrhoea throughout the day and night that burnt her skin, she would throw up all meals and milk meaning she was weak and lethargic and just so, so sad and miserable. It took ages to get her back to normal stools and eating properly - I had to start weaning pretty much from scratch as she’d gone off all food.

It may sound mild but it really isn’t for little ones.

Booknooks · 18/09/2021 12:39

Baby is breastfed so this offers some protection and eases recovery if they do get it.

Only if you get it as well, the theory that saliva from the baby travels through the nipple so your body can decode what antibodies are needed has not been proven. There's also a real chance that they wouldn't be able to keep breastmilk down if poorly. Your choice, but I wouldn't assume it's mild for all children.

TheGirlWhoLived · 18/09/2021 12:42

Like @NannyOggsward it wasn’t available for dd1 (in 2010) and refused it for dd2 (born in 2014) as it was really early on in the development. After more research and the vaccine becoming less ‘risky’ I chose to have it for ds1 (born 2021)

worrybutterfly · 18/09/2021 12:46

With my first DD we gave her the first one and she suffer horrific side effects that went on for weeks. However she suffered from gastro issues that hadn't been fully resolved and I think the live vaccine just tipped her over the edge. We didn't give her the second one, and she was fine. But she was a lockdown baby so wasnt really mixing with bugs/germs.

Second DD will be having both, unless she's also having gastro issues. Then will assess and decide whether to risk it or not.

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