Rotavirus Guidelines

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in infants & young children - children under 5 years of age account for about 115,000 GP visits, 22,000 emergency visits & 10,000 hospitalisations per year in Australia. Queensland Health will fund RotaTeq® for use in Queensland. All babies born from 1 May 2007 are eligible for free vaccine.

There is no catch up for this vaccination.

The following table (NCIRS) provides details on the dosage schedule for RotaTeq®

 
NO. OF DOSES
AGE OF ROUTINE
ADMINISTRATION
AGE LIMITS FOR DOSING
MINIMUM INTERVAL
BETWEEN DOSES
1st Dose
2nd Dose
3rd Dose
ROTATEQ
3 ORAL DOSES
(2mL/dose)
2,4 & 6 months
6-12*
weeks
10-32*
weeks
14-32*
weeks
4 week
The upper age limit for receipt of the first dose of Rotateq is 12.9 weeks (i.e. before the 13th week of age)
2nd dose should preferably be given by 28 weeks of age (to allow for minimum interval of 4 weeks prior to receipt of 3rd dose)
Upper age limit for either the second or third doses is 32.9 weeks (i.e. before the 33rd week of age)
For more detailed information on rotavirus vaccines