Don't use Rotarix vaccine, FDA warns
ACP's Steven Weinberger, FACP, blogs at KevinMD
Health care professionals should temporarily suspend the use of Rotarix, one of the vaccines used to prevent rotavirus disease, the FDA recommended last week.
The suspension is being taken as a precaution after DNA from porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) was found in Rotarix. PCV1 is not known to cause disease in humans and the FDA reports no evidence of a safety risk. No medical follow-up is recommended for patients who have been vaccinated with Rotarix, according to the FDA safety alert.
However, use of the other licensed rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq, is currently advised. In children who have received one dose of Rotarix, clinicians can complete the series with RotaTeq for the next two doses, according to the CDC.