Important: VAERS reports alone cannot determine if a vaccine caused an adverse event. Reports may contain incomplete, inaccurate, or unverified information. Correlation does not equal causation.
Rotavirus vaccines (RotaTeq and Rotarix) protect infants against severe diarrhea caused by rotavirus — the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. Given orally starting at 2 months of age, these vaccines have dramatically reduced rotavirus hospitalizations.
The following symptoms are most frequently reported after rotavirus vaccination:
Intussusception — a type of bowel obstruction where one segment of the intestine telescopes into another — is the most closely monitored adverse event for rotavirus vaccines. The first rotavirus vaccine (RotaShield) was withdrawn in 1999 because it caused intussusception in about 1 in 10,000 infants.
Current vaccines (RotaTeq and Rotarix) have a much smaller risk — estimated at 1-5 additional cases per 100,000 infants vaccinated, primarily within the first week after the first dose. This is why there's a strict age limit: the first dose must be given before 15 weeks of age, and the series must be completed by 8 months.
Both are oral vaccines (drops, not shots), which is why common side effects differ from injectable vaccines.
Common:
Less common:
Rare but serious:
The relatively high number of death reports for rotavirus vaccine reflects that it's given to very young infants (2-8 months) during the peak window for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Large-scale studies have found no increased risk of death from rotavirus vaccination — the temporal association with SIDS is coincidental.
Rotavirus vaccine has a strict age window and is given orally in infancy. See exact timing on the CDC vaccine schedule and our 2026 vaccine schedule analysis.
Before the introduction of rotavirus vaccines in 2006, rotavirus caused an estimated 400,000 doctor visits, 200,000 emergency room visits, 55,000–70,000 hospitalizations, and 20–60 deaths in children under 5 each year in the United States alone. Since routine vaccination began, hospitalizations for rotavirus gastroenteritis have dropped by more than 80%.
Clinical trials showed RotaTeq prevented about 74% of all rotavirus gastroenteritis cases and 98% of severe cases. Rotarix showed similar efficacy. The vaccines also provide indirect protection to unvaccinated older children and adults through reduced community transmission — a benefit confirmed in post-licensure studies.
Rotavirus vaccines have a strict age window that is important to understand:
These age restrictions exist because the risk of intussusception from rotavirus vaccine is highest when vaccination is delayed beyond the recommended window. Providers should not initiate the series if an infant is older than 15 weeks.
Rotavirus remains a major killer of children worldwide, causing an estimated 128,500 deaths per year among children under 5, primarily in low-income countries. The WHO recommends rotavirus vaccination for all infants globally. As of 2026, over 120 countries have incorporated rotavirus vaccines into their national immunization programs, contributing to significant declines in childhood diarrhea mortality worldwide.
Can a baby who received the rotavirus vaccine still get rotavirus?
Yes, but vaccinated children who get rotavirus typically have much milder illness. The vaccine is most effective at preventing severe, dehydrating gastroenteritis that leads to hospitalization.
Can the rotavirus vaccine spread to other family members?
The vaccine contains live, weakened virus, so vaccinated infants can shed virus in their stool for several days after vaccination. Standard hand hygiene (especially after diaper changes) is recommended but no special precautions are needed for healthy household contacts. Caution is advised around severely immunocompromised individuals.
What if a baby spits up or vomits the dose?
If a significant amount of the dose is spit up or vomited, a replacement dose may be given at the same visit. The decision is made by the healthcare provider based on the circumstances. Regardless, the schedule should continue as planned.