Concurrent administration of rhesus rotavirus tetravalent (RRV-TV) vaccine with pentavalent diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus–Haemophilus influenzae b-inactivated polio and hepatitis B vaccines

To investigate the incorporation of oral rhesus-human reassortant rotavirus tetravalent (RRV-TV) vaccine into a routine immunization programme RRV-TV or oral placebo was coadministered with a pentavalent diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell pertussis-Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib)-inactivated polio vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine following a 3-4-5-mo schedule in a double-blind trial involving 249 infants. Seroconversion rates after 3 doses of rotavirus vaccine were 80% for rotavirus immunoglobulin A (IgA) and 93% for RRV neutralizing antibodies. Rotavirus vaccine did not interfere with the immune responses to diphtheria tetanus pertussis Hib poliovirus 1 2 and 3 or hepatitis B. Following the first second and third doses of vaccine fever >38°C on the day of vaccination was seen in 31% 24% and 24% respectively with no difference between RRV-TV- and placebo-vaccinated children. This fever was presumably due to the whole-cell pertussis vaccine. Those vaccinees who received concomitant RRV-TV vaccine had another peak of fever around d 4 after the first dose when 25% of them had fever >38°C and 3% >39°C. It is concluded that RRV-TV rotavirus vaccine can be given concurrently with other childhood immunizations following a 3-4-5-mo vaccination schedule. However febrile reactions to RRV-TV rotavirus vaccine are common when the first dose is given at the age of 3 mo. (authors)