Rotavirus vaccine product change
Advisory Alert
July 21, 2021
*Cette information est seulement disponible en anglais.
To: Health Care Providers
FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Province Transitioning from RotaTeq® to Rotarix® Vaccine
Effective August 1, 2021 Ontario will be transitioning from RotaTeq® vaccine (Rot-5, manufactured by Merck Canada) a three-dose vaccine series, to Rotarix® vaccine (Rot-1, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Inc.) a two-dose vaccine series, for the prevention of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus infection in infants. This change is due to a recent federal vaccine contracting process.
Infants born on or after June 1, 2021, should start their rotavirus vaccine series with the Rotarix® vaccine. Infants completing their vaccine series should receive the additional dose(s) of RotaTeq® vaccine required to complete this series, wherever possible.
Important changes you should be aware of are summarized below:
- Rotarix® is given orally as a 2-dose series, routinely at 2 and 4 months of age.
- The first dose should be administered between 6 weeks and <15 weeks of age and all doses should be administered < 25 weeks of age.
- The minimum interval between the first dose and second dose is 4 weeks.
- Rotarix® and RotaTeq® vaccine products have different vaccination schedules and different age requirements for vaccine series completion. Please adhere to these age requirements when completing primary vaccine series.
- Rotarix®—2 dose series to be administered by <25 weeks of age
- RotaTeq®—3 dose series to administered by ≤32 weeks of age
Guidance for product transitioning:
- Order Rotarix® vaccine now for infants born after June 1, 2021, who will be due for their first dose of rotavirus vaccine in August 2021. Once received, provide Rotarix® to all unimmunized infants meeting eligibility criteria for rotavirus vaccine.
- Reserve any inventory of RotaTeq® in your vaccine fridges for infants who have previously received one or more doses of RotaTeq® vaccine.
- Complete the infant’s vaccine series with RotaTeq® vaccine wherever possible. It is anticipated that there will be enough provincial supply of RotaTeq® available for ordering to complete these vaccine series with the RotaTeq® product.
Scenarios to Complete the Rotavirus Vaccine Series
The schedule below outlines various recommendations for completing the rotavirus vaccine series based on vaccine product availability.
| Infant’s immunization history | Response |
|---|---|
| The infant previously received 1 or 2 doses of RotaTeq® and RotaTeq® is available. | Complete the 3-dose series with RotaTeq® at an interval of 4 to 10 weeks between each dose. All doses should be administered by ≤ 32 weeks of age. |
| The infant previously received 1 dose of RotaTeq® and RotaTeq® is not available. | Complete the series with 2 doses of Rotarix® at an interval of 4 weeks between doses. The two doses should be completed by <25 weeks. |
| The infant previously received 2 doses of RotaTeq® and RotaTeq® is not available. | Complete series with 1 dose of Rotarix® by <25 weeks of age. |
| Unknown product for previous dose(s). | Complete series with 2 doses of Rotarix® by <25 weeks of age. If any of the doses was RotaTeq® a total of 3 doses of rotavirus vaccine should be administered. All doses are required to be administered <25 weeks of age. |
Please refer to the accompanying health care provider Q&A provided by the Ministry of Health for further information on rotavirus infection and the vaccine products available for prevention.
Please contact the Immunization Program at 705.522.9200, ext. 458 with any questions you may have about this product transition. Please order any required vaccine through your normal ordering practices.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
NOTE: All Advisory Alerts are found on our website.
This item was last modified on July 21, 2021