Rotarix Special Precautions

It is good clinical practice that vaccination should be preceded by a review of the medical history especially with regard to the contraindications and by a clinical examination.
There are no data on the safety and efficacy of Rotarix in infants with gastrointestinal illnesses or growth retardation. Administration of Rotarix may be considered with caution in such infants when, in the opinion of the physician, withholding the vaccine entails a greater risk.
As a precaution, healthcare professionals should follow-up on any symptoms indicative of intussusception (severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bloody stools, abdominal bloating and/or high fever) since data from observational safety studies indicate an increased risk of intussusception, mostly within 7 days after rotavirus vaccination (see Adverse Reactions). Parents/guardians should be advised to promptly report such symptoms to their healthcare provider.
For subjects with a predisposition for intussusception, see Contraindications.
Asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic HIV infections are not expected to affect the safety or efficacy of Rotarix. A clinical study in a limited number of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic HIV positive infants showed no apparent safety problems (see Adverse Reactions).
Administration of Rotarix to infants who have known or suspected immunodeficiency should be based on careful consideration of potential benefits and risks.
Excretion of the vaccine virus in the stools is known to occur after vaccination with peak excretion around the 7th day. Viral antigen particles detected by ELISA were found in 50% of stools after the first dose of Rotarix lyophilised formulation and 4% of stools after the second dose. When these stools were tested for the presence of live vaccine strain, only 17% were positive. In two comparative controlled trials, vaccine shedding after vaccination with Rotarix liquid formulation was comparable to that observed after vaccination with Rotarix lyophilised formulation.
Cases of transmission of this excreted vaccine virus to seronegative contacts of vaccinees have been observed without causing any clinical symptom.
Rotarix should be administered with caution to individuals with immunodeficient close contacts, such as individuals with malignancies, or who are otherwise immunocompromised or individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
Contacts of recent vaccinees should observe personal hygiene (e.g. wash their hands after changing child's nappies).
The potential risk of apnoea and the need for respiratory monitoring for 48-72h should be considered when administering the primary immunisation series to very premature infants (born ≤28 weeks of gestation) and particularly for those with a previous history of respiratory immaturity.
As the benefit of the vaccination is high in this group of infants, vaccination should not be withheld or delayed.
A protective immune response may not be elicited in all vaccinees (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
The extent of protection that Rotarix might provide against other rotavirus strains that have not been circulating in clinical trials is currently unknown. Clinical studies from which efficacy data were derived were conducted in Europe, Central and South America, Africa and Asia (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Rotarix does not protect against gastro-enteritis due to other pathogens than rotavirus.
No data are available on the use of Rotarix for post-exposure prophylaxis.
Rotarix should under no circumstances be injected.
The vaccine contains sucrose as an excipient. Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this vaccine.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Not relevant.