If symptoms of severe, watery diarrhea and vomiting in your infant or young child are evident, they may have the rotavirus.
St. Lawrence Health wants to be sure parents and caregivers of children are aware that with rotavirus, little ones from ages six months to two years are at a particularly high risk and may become dehydrated and need to be hospitalized. Before this happens, protect them with the rotavirus vaccine.
The liquid vaccines are given in either three doses or two doses, depending on the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the first dose be given before your infant is 15 weeks old, and all doses should be received before they turn eight months old.
Rotavirus is transmissible and usually spreads through contaminated hands or objects; there is not currently a medication to treat the infection itself.
For informative and accurate information about the rotavirus vaccine, talk with your St. Lawrence Health pediatrician, or visit the CDC’s website.
St. Lawrence Health has a dedicated page on its website to highlight some of the most common and encouraged vaccinations and immunizations.
