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IMMUNIZATIONS PAGE
Rotavirus
This virus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in young children and can cause dehydration and even death. Nearly every child in the U.S. is exposed to rotavirus before their 5th birthday.
The rotavirus immunization prevents 74% of all rotavirus cases, and about 96% of hospitalizations due to rotavirus.
Kids share viruses better than most things. Rotavirus is very contagious and causes 20 to 60 deaths among children less than 5 years of age in the U.S. each year.
Recommendations:
The CDC recommends that all infants should be immunized against rotovirus. The immunization is a liquid given by mouth – not a shot. Talk to your doctor about protecting your child.
First Dose: 2 months of age
Second Dose: 4 months of age
Third Dose: 6 months of age (if needed)
Make an informed decision: Compare the risks!
Risk of rotavirus
Each year in the United States rotavirus causes:
- More than 400,000 doctor visits
- More than 200,000 kids to go to the emergency room
- 50,000 to 70,000 kids to be hospitalized
Risk of rotavirus immunization
- The rotavirus immunization is very safe. It has been studied in more than 70,000 healthy infants and no serious side effects, such as high fever or allergic reactions, were found.
- The most common side effect of the rotavirus immunization is fussiness.
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