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Latrobe City Offers New Rotavirus Immunisation For Infants

Latrobe City’s immunisation service is now able to offer the RotaTeq vaccine to protect infants against rotavirus infections at each of its monthly immunisation sessions.

By Latrobe City Council - 12th July 2007 - Back to News

Latrobe’s manager health services, Andrew Mackintosh, said that rotavirus was the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children in Australia.

"There are many thousands of visits to the doctor and hospitalisations each year in young children and children can be infected with rotavirus several times during their lives. Almost every child will suffer at least one infection by the age of three years and the virus is easily spread from one child to the next. Symptoms range from mild, watery diarrhoea to severe, dehydrating diarrhoea with vomiting, fever and shock requiring hospitalisation," Mr Mackintosh said.

"Available only to babies born from 1 May 2007, the RotaTeq vaccine is administered orally (swallowed by mouth) and consists of three doses. It is recommended to be given at the same time as other vaccines included on the National Immunisation Program at two, four and six months of age. However, the first dose must be administered before the infant reaches twelve weeks of age," Mr Mackintosh explained.

The vaccine is not effective for older babies or children," he added.

Further enquiries relating to the RotaTeq vaccine can be directed to council’s health services team on telephone 1300 367 700.


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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