Is Rotavirus Vaccines safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Rotavirus Vaccines. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
A subset of 300 infants in a multicenter European rotavirus efficacy trial had antirotavirus IgA titers measured 1 to 2 months after the second rotavirus dose (Rotarix - GSK). Breast-fed infants had an 85.5% conversion rate compared with 89.2% rate in exclusively formula-fed infants, which was not statistically different. The serum antirotavirus IgA concentrations were 185.8 units/mL and 231.5 units/mL in the breastfed and exclusively formula-fed infants, respectively.[ 4 ] Two hundred fifty breastfed infants were randomized to receive their routine rotavirus vaccination (Rotarix) with either unrestricted breastfeeding or withholding breastfeeding from 1 hour before to 1 hour after the vaccination. No difference were found in the rate of seroconversion between the two groups of infants.[ 20 ] Four hundred infants in India were randomized to either be breastfed before receiving rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) or to not be breastfed within 30 minutes of their vaccination. Vaccinations were given at 6 to 7 weeks and at 10 to 14 weeks of age. Of the 388 infants with evaluable information, no difference was found in the seroconversion rate between the two groups.[ 21 ] Among 45 breastfed (at least 4 times daily) Nicaraguan infants who were given a rotavirus vaccination (Rotateq-MSD), 31 infants seroconverted and 14 infants did not. The seroconversion failures were mostly in infants who had high preimmunization IgA levels and whose mothers had high serum IgG antibody levels against rotavirus. No correlation was found between breastmilk IgA or neutralizing antibodies and seroconversion, although the sample size was small.[ 27 ] In a monovalent G1P[ 8 ] rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) trial in Bangladesh, rotavirus-specific plasma IgA antibody seroconversion rates were higher among infants of maternal non-secretors of antibodies (39%) compared to mothers who secreted anti-rotavirus antibodies (23%). Maternal secretor status was a significant predictor of infant response to the vacc
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.