The FDA has temporarily suspended the use of Rotarix vaccine in children. Rotarix vaccine is a vaccine given by mouth to infants to prevent gastroenteritis caused by Rotavirus. Rotavirus can cause severe dehydration in infants and young children. Tests on the product showed that the Rotarix vaccine contains porcine ciclovirus 1; porcine ciclovirus is not known to cause illness in humans or animals. However, the unexpected presence of this virus has caused the vaccine to be suspended until further tests can be performed.
Tests for another Rotavirus vaccine, Rotateq, has not shown the presence of the porcine ciclovirus. The FDA recommends that physicians should continue administering the Rotateq vaccine to infants.
