Question: Is the rotavirus vaccination to be given? I've heard it's off. Is that right?

Answer: You are right. In 1999 rotavirus immunization in the U.S. was called off.

Rotavirus (RV) is a leading cause of severe winter diarrhea in young children. Almost every child in the U.S. catches it before entering school.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) withdrew its prior recommendation that infants be vaccinated against RV because of a rare side effect of the vaccine. The RV vaccine was discovered to increase the risk during the first 2 weeks after vaccination of what is called intussusception -- telescoping of the intestine within itself, leading to obstruction (blockage) of the intestine.

The Wyeth Lederle Vaccines unit of American Home Products Corp. therefore withdrew its RotaShield rotavirus vaccine from the market and requested an immediate return of all vaccine.

In sum, RV vaccination is not to be given, as of the date this is written (February, 2000).