Presently I'm telling all my patients of the availability of
Rotashield the vaccine for rotavirus. A problem is that
many insurance companies are not paying for this vaccine at
this time. I do give the parents some ideas of the child's risk
of getting severe infection. I tell them formula fed day care
babies are the highest risk and at home breastfeeders are at
the lowest risk.
I don't have a problem with the parent of an at home
breastfed baby declining this vaccine (don't stroke, Gloria) but
I advise them to continue breastfeeding for a year if they
do. Remembering that breasfeeding rates in the US drop a lot
in the first 6 months.
I did speak to some pediatric ID specialists who agree on the
low risk of breastfed babies getting severe rotavirus infection
but their concern, rightfully, is that most moms don't breastfed for
a year.
-Rob


Rob Cordes, DO, FAAP, FACOP
Wilkes Barre PA
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