Rotavirus monovalent and pentavalent vaccine

Abstract

According to data from the Pan American Health Organization, children under 5 years of age are the people at the highest risk of getting sick from rotavirus, evolving into more serious conditions and even dying. Virtually every child under 5 years of age has been infected with rotavirus at least once, and the first infection usually occurs before the age of 3 years. This infection is characterized by acute watery diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration, which leads to hospitalization in a quarter of cases. Based on the statistics of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) of 2017, rotavirus gastroenteritis has a high incidence in Mexico despite the fact that it is a vaccine-preventable disease; which is effective against clinical presentations of any degree and especially against severe forms in children up to 7 years of age. There are 2 types of rotavirus vaccines, both for oral administration, which are attenuated virus preparations; the monovalent human rotavirus vaccine (RV1), consisting of 2 doses; and the pentavalent recombinant bovine-human rotavirus vaccine (RV5), consisting of 3 doses. The vaccination scheme should be completed with the same product whenever possible.