Rotateq ® (Rotavirus Vaccine) by Merck

• Rotavirus is a highly prevalent unavoidable viral infection infecting virtually all children in the U.S. by 5 years of age- many more than once.

• Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis among infants and young children. The illness is characterized by profuse vomiting and watery diarrhea. There is no treatment.

• Rotavirus is highly contagious and can survive on surfaces for weeks even after the use of soaps and disinfectants.

• 1 in 17 children will require an emergency room visit- usually for IV fluids

• 1 in 65 children will require hospitalization.

• The new rotavirus vaccine called Rotateq is a live oral vaccine that protects against 5 strains of rotavirus (These strains are the most prevalent in the U.S)

• Rotateq vaccination is given as a 3 dose series.

• Rotateq is given by mouth. There are no preservatives or thimerosal.

• The 3 doses will be given over the course of a few months corresponding with the 2 month, 4 month and 6 month visits.

• Doses are administered at least 4 weeks apart, must be started before 12 weeks of age and all doses should be completed by 32 weeks of age.

• There is no catch up vaccination for older children (>12 weeks of age)

• Side effects include diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.

Gardasil ® (Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine) by Merck

• Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common cause of cervical cancer.

• Over half of women are infected with HPV at some point.

• The vaccine protects against 4 serotypes of HPV.

• 70% of cervical cancers are caused by 2 of the serotypes and 90% of genital warts are caused by the 2 other serotypes in the vaccine.

• The vaccine is preventative and made from non-infectious (inactive) HPV- there is no thimerosal or preservative in the vaccine.

• The vaccine is licensed for females aged 9- 26 years of age but will be given in our office starting at 11 years through the age of 18 years.

• The vaccine should be delivered through a series of 3 dose series over a period of 6 months.

• The vaccine has been studied through 5 years with no evidence of waning immunity.

• The vaccine is currently being studied for use in males but there is no indication for its use at this time.