Rotavirus Vaccine:A Recent Innovation in Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)

Diarrhea is one of the common childhood illness in India as well as globally. Rotavirus is the main causative agent responsible for diarrheal diseases in children under-five year of age. In India, Rotavirus alone is responsible for nearly 80,000 to one lakh deaths, about 9 lakh hospitalizations and 32.7 lakh OPD cases of severe diarrhea every year. There is no specific treatment currently available to treat Rotavirus diarrhea. To prevent the childhood mortality and morbidity due to Rotavirus infections, WHO recommends the introduction of Rotavirus vaccine in every country's national immunization programme. Hence the Government of India has recently launched Rotavirus vaccine (Rotavac) as part of Universal Immunization Programme. This review article throws the light on the Rotavirus vaccine, its storage, vaccination schedule, administration, contraindications, and adverse events following Rotavirus immunization as per GOI guidelines. It will help the nurses working in pediatric departments, MCH centers, community areas and other health workers such ANMs, ASHAs, Anganwadi workers to keep themselves update regarding the Rotavirus immunization under UIP. Nurse educators can also incorporate the procedure of Rotavirus vaccine administration in the curriculum of nursing students for their future preparation.