"Balancing Benefits and Risks of Rotavirus Vaccine"

Rotavirus vaccine associated with small increased risk of intussusception

(dailyRx News) Vaccines have made a tremendous difference in reducing the risk of disease in the US. Yet the benefits of vaccines do not mean there are no risks to them.

A recent pair of studies found an increased risk of intussusception with the current rotavirus vaccines. Intussusception is a serious medical condition in which part of the bowel slides into another part in a sort of “telescope” movement. Rotavirus is a gastrointestinal illness that causes severe diarrhea and potentially dehydration.

In 1999, a previous rotavirus vaccine called RotaShield was voluntarily recalled because of an increased risk of one to two cases of intussusception per 10,000 doses.