To following is a letter I sent to the Wikes Barre PA newspaper,
The Times Leader:

Dear Mr. Janoski,
The December 13, 1998 issue of the Times Leader had an informative article
(page 13A) about rotavirus, the vomiting and
diarrhea disease it causes and the new preventative vaccine called
Rotashield.
As stated it is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in children
resulting in 500,000 doctors' office visits and 50,000 hospitalizations
a year because of resulting dehydration.  Virtually all children experience
this infection before school entry. It is most severe in infants.
These figures indicate that about 1 in 78 children will be hospitalized with
rotavirus by the time they are 5 years old.
Rotavirus disease occurs seasonally starting in the Southwest portion of the
USA in the fall and spreading north and east. In PA we
usually see it in late winter.
Infection rates in industrial and developing countries are similar, implying
that sanitation has not done a lot to decrease the spread
of rotavirus.
The Rotashield vaccine, given orally at 2, 4, and 6 months is highly
effective at preventing severe vomiting and diarrhea from
rotavirus. However mild and some moderate cases can still occur.
The cost of the vaccine, which maybe $50 or more per dose to the parent is
presently not covered by most
insurances.
Not mentioned in the article is that breastfeeding, the free and optimal way
of feeding and nourishing babies and toddlers,
contains multiple components shown to be protective against rotavirus and
other vomiting/diarrhea diseases.

-Robert Cordes, D.O., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.O.P.
pediatrician
Wilkes Barre, PA
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