Naomi, You can check the archives for my letter to the editor of a local paper ref rotavirus and rotashield vaccine. BTW the vaccine is made by Wyeth. Anyway its the most common cause of childhood vomiting and diarrhea, virtually all are infected by age 4. In the USA 500,000 office visits a year for this and 50,000 admissions. Just on avg 1:78 children needs IV fluids b/c of rotavirus at some time in their life. As for breastfeeding, at least two factors sIgA and lactadherin have been shown to be protective. Many infectious disease experts will state the protectiveness of breastfeeding is not reliable. However I know at least two peds ID specialist who feel breastfed babies are not at high risk for severe rotavirus infection. These two docs also do a lot of general pediatrics. I personally do not see breastfeeding babies gdetting severe gastroenteritis. -Rob Rob Cordes, DO, FAAP, FACOP Wilkes Barre, PA mailto:[log in to unmask]