Rotavirus Vaccine and Intussusception

In September 1999, the FDA announced that 99 cases of intussusception (including two deaths) had been reported in possible association with RotaShield. This is a sharp increase from the 15 that had been reported when the vaccine was halted in July.

About 1.5 million doses of RotaShield have been given to children.

The CDC is carefully studying whether these complications were actually caused by the vaccine.

A safe, effective rotavirus vaccine would be welcome, because rotavirus infects almost all children by age 3, causing half a million physician visits and 20 deaths per year in the US.