Rotavirus Vaccination Reduces Antibiotic Use for Gastroenteritis

These results from a recent peer-reviewed study demonstrated that rotavirus vaccination could reduce antibiotic prescribing for acute gastroenteritis, which could help reduce the growth of antibiotic resistance.

Published by Open Forum Infectious Diseases, a recent study estimated the 5-year adjusted relative cumulative incidence of antibiotic prescription following an acute gastroenteritis diagnosis was 0.793 (95% CI: 0.761, 0.827) among children with complete rotavirus vaccination compared to children without rotavirus vaccination.

Additionally, this study published on June 9, 2022, found children with complete vaccination were less likely to switch antibiotics (0.808, 95%CI: 0.743, 0.887).

And using annual trends in rotavirus vaccination, rotavirus vaccination has averted an estimated 67,045 (95% CI: 53,729 - 80,664) antibiotic prescriptions nationally among children born between 2007 and 2018.

The U.S. CDC says most children who get a rotavirus vaccine will be protected from severe rotavirus disease.

Two rotavirus vaccines are currently licensed for infants in the United States:

• RotaTeq® is given in three doses at ages two months, four months, and six months
• Rotarix® is offered in two doses at ages two months and four months

According to the CDC, children should receive all doses of a rotavirus vaccine before they turn eight months old. 

The first dose of either vaccine should be given before a child is 15 weeks of age.

Both vaccines are given by putting drops in the child's mouth.

Note: This study's results were manually curated for mobile readers.