Do children who suffered acute rotavirus diarrhoea need to get revaccinated?

Even if a child used to suffer Rotavirus diarrhoea, the risk of reinfection still exists. Rotavirus vaccine helps strengthen the immunity, prevent serious illness and protect children's health most effectively. 

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of dangerous acute diarrhoea in young children. Vaccination is a way to create active immunity, helping the child's body fight the disease more effectively.

In fact, children infected with Rotavirus may not have full immunity to the different strains of the virus contained in the vaccine. Therefore, it is still necessary to give children the vaccine even if they have had the disease.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Thai (Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Control, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Ministry of Health), it is very difficult to determine the exact cause of diarrhoea in children because there are many different agents. Rotavirus is just one of them and there are at least five common strains. Therefore, children who were infected with one strain can still get it again if exposed to another strain. Vaccines are the optimal measure for better prevention.

Rota vaccine not only helps reduce the risk of disease but also eases symptoms and reduces the risk of hospitalisation if the child is infected with the virus.

For the highest protection, children need to complete 2 doses of Rota vaccine before 6 months of age, using the same vaccine from the same manufacturer: Dose 1: When the child is 2 months old; Dose 2: At least 1 month after the first dose. If the schedule at 2 months of age could not be met, the child should be provided with that dose as soon as possible and the second dose should be completed before 6 months of age for the highest disease prevention effect.

Rota vaccine is not indicated for children 6 months of age and older due to the increased risk of intussusception.

Do not miss the “golden” period of taking Rota vaccine in the first 6 months of your child’s life. Parents and caregivers should take their children to the nearest medical facilities to receive detailed information about the Rota vaccine and complete the vaccination schedule on time.