I just recently had my second baby (1 month old) and know that vaccines start next month =( My first child (27 months) never received the rotavirus vaccine and is now apparently too old to get it but my 1 month old will be getting it next month. We just had her 1 month appt today and quickly discussed the next appt and the vaccines but my Dr said that as far as she knew that the rotateq was only potentially contagious through fecal matter and thats it. She gave me a pamphlet on the vaccine and the virus but it doesnt say anything about it being contagious. The virus itself sounds horrible and beyond scary so I am very worried that my 2 yr old could catch it from her sister when she gets the vaccine next month. She loves to cuddle and kiss her sister and really how do you explain to a 2 yr old that she all of a sudden cant do that anymore for just a week or two?
Has anyone been in this situation or does anyone have any other advice, info or experience with this?
Thanks in advance
That's one we skipped. My kids aren't in any kind of group care setting before 24 months and are breastfed through their second year and beyond. The previous version of that vaccine was recalled from the market for causing bowel intussuseptions and this one hasn't been out very long.
My firstborn got this vaccine (the previous version - the one that was recalled) and he got very sick from it. My gut told me not to let him get the vaccine, but I was trusting my doctor so I did it anyway. I totally regretted it.
I didn't allow my second born to get the vaccine, and she's fine. My kids are 3 & 4 and perfectly healthy. What's more important than getting potentially dangerous vaccines is: handwashing, staying away from sick people, and eating healthy foods full of anti-oxidants so that if they DO come into contact with a virus, their body should be able to fight it off without any problems.
Good luck with your decision...I know it's a hard one to make.
Go with your gut!
My son had rotovirus four times (this was before the vaccine was available)...there are I believe around ten different strains. My husband and I did not catch it from him. I guess we already had it as kids, or we used good hygiene.
It was horrible...seven to ten days of first vomiting, first few days then the diarrhea from hell...it literally smelled like a rotting corpse. I always knew it was rotovirus by the smell and color of the diarrhea.
When they told me they had a vaccine for it and did I want my daughter to get it...I was very excited not to have to go through those horrible stomach bug days again.
Is it a live virus vaccine? Or is the virus dead? In the vaccine...if it is a live weakened virus then I guess you could catch it...but it is spread through poop.
I don't know that I have ever heard of someone being contagious from getting a vaccine...ummm, gotta go look that one up...
I would definitely get it. Both my kids - now 4 and 5 did :). Just ask you Dr. what the exposure is/is not for your 2 year old. Good luck
You can find loads of info on the disease and the vaccine at www.nvic.org.
National Vaccine Information Center
I'm trying to figure out why your 27 month old never had the shots as I know the vaccine has been out since my youngest was born in 2007.
But to answer your question, we never had any issues it. It was not out when my oldest was little and she never had the shots and never caught anything. I think you have very little to worry about. They do reccomend you wash your hands after diaper changes (which shouldn't be an issue as I'm sure you do anyway). I would just keep her sister away around diaper changes and/or the diaper pail/trash.
Did you ask your doctor why the 2 year old is too old? Usually when a child is too old for a vaccine it is because they are already immuned.
I don't recall my kids getting this vaccine (they are 3 and 6). Before my oldest was born it was not given to all kids only ones with health issues. I only knew one child who had rotavirus and he was immunocompromised and a premmie so they put him in the hospital. But no one else in the family got it. You don't have to give every vaccination on schedule. Talk to your doctor or research this specific vaccine. If you want you can spread out the vaccinations to give them a little later or one at a time or whatever. My kids were "behind" the recommended schedule as babies and toddlers but caught up in time for Kindergarten.
