Vaccine for Rotavirus Launched

RotaTeq, a vaccine for Rotavirus, has been introduced by a leading pharmaceutical company, MSD India to treat the major cause for severe and fatal infant diarrhea in the country.

Rotavirus causes severe gastroenteritis in children all over the world, affecting nearly every child below five years of age. The vaccine has been developed as a pentavalent formulation that is of five common rotavirus serotypes.

The vaccine needs to be given in three doses and costs Rs. 900 a dose. It must be administered at 6-10 weeks and on the 14^th week, before 32 weeks elapse. The vaccine is available in Chennai.

Six countries report 50 per cent of deaths due to rotavirus, with India taking the lead at 23 per cent of the rotavirus fatalities in the world.

Unfortunately, using clean water or maintaining strict standards of hygiene does not seem to have any significant effect in controlling the rotavirus gastroenteritis, according to doctors.



Source: Medindia