FDA Asks that One of Two Rotavirus Vaccines Not be Used

---

One of Two Rotavirus Vaccines 
Now Off the Market


Advanced Pediatrics has just been alerted that the FDA has advised all doctors
to stop use of the Rotarix vaccine, one of two on the market for use in preventing
stomach flu caused by the rotavirus.


Here is the official notice:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm205625.htm

This notice brings several points to mind:

• Your child is not at risk at Advanced Pediatrics from this vaccine, we have never given this brand to anyone at this office
• Rotavirus is the main type of stomach flu in February.
• All stomach flus tend to be quite mild illnesses in nearly everyone who has them
• By mild, we mean that you recover and you recover with no lasting harm
• By that definition, nearly everyone who gets the stomach flu has a mild illness
• This being the case, any vaccine that would propose to prevent rotavirus infection had better be incredibly safe.  Otherwise, getting the vaccine would prove more dangerous than having the mild illness.

These points leave us confirmed in our recommendation at Advanced Pediatrics

that rotavirus immunization is not yet established as the safe enough to prevent 

this very mild illness, and so we do not recommend immunization with it.

This most recent advisory from the FDA confirms the reasonableness

of our policy to hold on the rotavirus vaccine program at Advanced Pediatrics

until we can be sure this vaccine is far safer than having a bout of mild stomach flu.

In extremely sharp contrast to the typically mild nature of rotavirus, the 
deadly illnesses of tetanus, meningitis, polio, and diphtheria make the urgency of 
being protected against these diseases a very convincing argument for immunization

against these illnesses.

Dr. Arthur Lavin

*Disclaimer*
The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.