MEMO: Rotavirus Immunization Program: Product Transition to Rotarix®TO: Health Care Professionals in the Niagara region FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease program, Niagara Region Public Health REFERENCE: Rotavirus Immunization Program: Product Transition to
Rotarix® DATE: August 11, 2021
Product Change from RotaTeq® to Rotarix® Vaccine: - On Aug. 1, 2021, Ontario transitioned from the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine RotaTeq® (Rot-5) to the monovalent rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix® (Rot-1) as a result of the federal vaccine purchasing program
- The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends routine infant rotavirus vaccination with either of the rotavirus vaccine products. They do not recommend one product over the other.
- The two rotavirus vaccines differ in
composition and schedule, refer to the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Updates to the Ontario Rotavirus Immunization Program: Product change to Rotarix® vaccine, Questions and Answers for Health Care Providers
- Rotarix® is a 2-dose series given orally at 2 and 4 months of age
- RotaTeq® is a 3-dose series given orally at 2, 4 and 6 months of age
- Infants born on or after June 1, 2021, should start and complete
their series with 2 doses of Rotarix®
- Infants born before June 1, 2021, should continue and complete their series with 3 doses of RotaTeq®
- Infants should start and complete series with the same product whenever possible
- If the rotavirus vaccine product used to start the immunization series is not available or if it is unknown, complete the series with the available rotavirus vaccine product
- If any dose in the series is RotaTeq®, a total of 3 doses of rotavirus vaccine should be administered following appropriate intervals and
completion timelines
- Please use the revised General Vaccine Order Form to request Rotarix® and RotaTeq® (for completion of series)
Additional Information:
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