Rotavirus Vaccination in Brazil and Mexico

RotaShield, an earlier rotavirus vaccine, was withdrawn from the market in 1999 after postlicensure surveillance revealed an association with intussusception. A subsequently available vaccine, RV1, has not been associated with intussusception in the U.S., and its beneficial effects have been impressive. Brazil and Mexico added this vaccine to their national childhood immunization programs in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Now, using case-series and case-control methods and surveillance data from August 2008 through August 2010, researchers have assessed whether routine vaccination with RV1 is associated with intussusception in these countries.

Vaccination is recommended at ages 2 months (dose 1) and 4 months (dose 2). Risk was examined during …