title: Recommendations for rotavirus vaccine.
abstract: Rotavirus infection has been the leading cause of gastroenteritis among children in Taiwan. Studies have shown that 40% of hospitalization for acute gastroenteritis can be prevented through the use of vaccines, including a live, attenuated monovalent rotavirus vaccine and a pentavalent, human-bovine reassortant rotavirus vaccine. In 2009, the World Health Organization suggested that rotavirus vaccine should be included in all national immunization programs. This review summarizes issues and recommendations discussed during an expert meeting in Taiwan. The recommendations included: (1) rotavirus vaccine should be offered to all healthy infants (including those without contraindications, such as immunodeficiency) at an appropriate age; (2) either monovalent or pentavalent vaccine can be administered concurrently with routine injected vaccines; (3) the administration of rotavirus vaccine must be administered at least 2 weeks prior to oral polio vaccination; (4) the first vaccine dose for infants should be administered between age 6 weeks and age 14 weeks 6 days and the course should be completed by age 8 months 0 day; (5) pentavalent vaccines can be administered at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months while monovalent vaccines can be taken at 2 months and 4 months; (6) a combined use of monovalent and pentavalent vaccine is justified only when the previous dose is unavailable or unknown; and (7) rotavirus vaccines may be given to premature infants, human immunodeficiency virus infected infants and infants who have received or are going to receive blood products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ping-Ing
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Po-Yen
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yhu-Chering
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chin-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chun-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Mei-Hwei
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yung-Zen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Nan-Chang
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yen-Hsuan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Chung-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Luan-Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ren-Bin
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yung-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kao-Pin
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Betau
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Tzou-Yien
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013624:Taiwan; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines
keywords: Taiwan; diarrhea; recommendation; rotavirus infection; vaccine