Safety Information for RotaTeq® (Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral, Pentavalent)

Information on RotaTeq for health care professionals

RotaTeq is a vaccine that can help protect your infant against rotavirus, an extremely common and highly contagious stomach virus that can cause fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. The vaccine is given by mouth at 3 different times, each about one to two months apart. Nearly all children become infected with rotavirus by the time they are 5 years old.

RotaTeq helps protect against diarrhea and vomiting only if they are caused by rotavirus. It does not protect against diarrhea and vomiting that are caused by anything else.

RotaTeq may not fully protect all children that get the vaccine, and if your child already has the virus it will not help protect them.

Important Safety Information

The most common side effects reported were diarrhea, vomiting, fever, runny nose, sore throat, wheezing or coughing, and ear infection. You can ask your health care professional for a more complete list of side effects. Call your child's doctor right away if your child has vomiting, diarrhea, severe stomach pain, blood in their stool or change in their bowel movements, as these may be signs of a serious and life-threatening condition known as intussusception. It is important to contact your health care professional if your child has any of these symptoms at any time after vaccination. RotaTeq should not be given to infants who are allergic to any part of the vaccine.

Please read the Patient Product Information and discuss it with your doctor or health care professional.


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This site is intended only for residents of the United States, its territories, and Puerto Rico.
RotaTeq is a registered trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.
20750349(1)-11/07-RTQ