Rotavirus is a major public health problem, accounting for significant morbidity and hospital admissions in the developed world and childhood mortality in the developing world.

A vaccine was introduced into the NHS immunisation programme in 2013. The key points to remember as as follows:

• it is an oral, live attenuated vaccine
• 2 doses are required, the first at 2 months, the second at 3 months

the first dose should not be given after 14 weeks + 6 days and the second dose cannot be given after 23 weeks + 6 days due to a theoretical risk of intussusception

Other points

• the vaccine is around 85-90% effective and is predicted to decrease hospitalisation by 70%
• offers long-term protection against rotavirus