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ATLANTA – Physicians now have formal approval to vaccinate HIV-exposed or HIV-infected infants and children against rotavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted at its summer meeting to approve changes in wording to the childhood immunization schedule and endorse the use of rotavirus vaccine for HIV-infected infants and children aged 0-18 years.
Dr. Jane Seward, a member of the CDC's division of viral diseases, presented the rationale for the changes, which were approved by the committee.
“Rotavirus is a ubiquitous infection in childhood,” she said. “If these children are not vaccinated, they will almost certainly come down with wild rotavirus disease.”
Although many physicians already routinely administer the rotavirus vaccine to HIV-infected infants and children, Dr. Seward said ACIP proposed modifying the language related to rotavirus vaccination of HIV-infected children based on three main considerations:
▸ The HIV diagnosis may not be established before the age of the first rotavirus vaccine dose.
▸ Natural rotavirus infection does not appear to be more severe in HIV-infected infants.
▸ The rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) that would be used in HIV-positive children is attenuated considerably.
The previous wording of the childhood vaccination schedule stated that data were insufficient to support the administration of rotavirus vaccine for HIV-infected children and infants, and therefore practitioners should consider the risks and benefits before vaccinating these patients.
“So the option was there for physicians to vaccinate based on the risks and benefits,” Dr. Seward said.
Although studies in the United States are limited because of the small numbers of HIV-infected children, recent data from large studies in Africa support evidence that rotavirus disease is not more severe in HIV-positive infants and children than in those who don't have HIV, although more data are needed in older children, Dr. Seward explained.
The rotavirus vaccine is as safe as other similar vaccines given to HIV-infected children, she added. She cited the oral polio vaccine as an example; it is considered safe for HIV-infected children and replicates more quickly in the digestive tract than does the rotavirus vaccine.
No trials to assess the safety and efficacy of the rotavirus vaccine in HIV-infected children are planned for the United States, but manufacturers including GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co. are planning additional studies in developing countries where the burden of disease is greater, Dr. Seward said.
ATLANTA – Physicians now have formal approval to vaccinate HIV-exposed or HIV-infected infants and children against rotavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted at its summer meeting to approve changes in wording to the childhood immunization schedule and endorse the use of rotavirus vaccine for HIV-infected infants and children aged 0-18 years.
Dr. Jane Seward, a member of the CDC's division of viral diseases, presented the rationale for the changes, which were approved by the committee.
“Rotavirus is a ubiquitous infection in childhood,” she said. “If these children are not vaccinated, they will almost certainly come down with wild rotavirus disease.”
Although many physicians already routinely administer the rotavirus vaccine to HIV-infected infants and children, Dr. Seward said ACIP proposed modifying the language related to rotavirus vaccination of HIV-infected children based on three main considerations:
▸ The HIV diagnosis may not be established before the age of the first rotavirus vaccine dose.
▸ Natural rotavirus infection does not appear to be more severe in HIV-infected infants.
▸ The rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) that would be used in HIV-positive children is attenuated considerably.
The previous wording of the childhood vaccination schedule stated that data were insufficient to support the administration of rotavirus vaccine for HIV-infected children and infants, and therefore practitioners should consider the risks and benefits before vaccinating these patients.
“So the option was there for physicians to vaccinate based on the risks and benefits,” Dr. Seward said.
Although studies in the United States are limited because of the small numbers of HIV-infected children, recent data from large studies in Africa support evidence that rotavirus disease is not more severe in HIV-positive infants and children than in those who don't have HIV, although more data are needed in older children, Dr. Seward explained.
The rotavirus vaccine is as safe as other similar vaccines given to HIV-infected children, she added. She cited the oral polio vaccine as an example; it is considered safe for HIV-infected children and replicates more quickly in the digestive tract than does the rotavirus vaccine.
No trials to assess the safety and efficacy of the rotavirus vaccine in HIV-infected children are planned for the United States, but manufacturers including GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co. are planning additional studies in developing countries where the burden of disease is greater, Dr. Seward said.
ATLANTA – Physicians now have formal approval to vaccinate HIV-exposed or HIV-infected infants and children against rotavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted at its summer meeting to approve changes in wording to the childhood immunization schedule and endorse the use of rotavirus vaccine for HIV-infected infants and children aged 0-18 years.
Dr. Jane Seward, a member of the CDC's division of viral diseases, presented the rationale for the changes, which were approved by the committee.
“Rotavirus is a ubiquitous infection in childhood,” she said. “If these children are not vaccinated, they will almost certainly come down with wild rotavirus disease.”
Although many physicians already routinely administer the rotavirus vaccine to HIV-infected infants and children, Dr. Seward said ACIP proposed modifying the language related to rotavirus vaccination of HIV-infected children based on three main considerations:
▸ The HIV diagnosis may not be established before the age of the first rotavirus vaccine dose.
▸ Natural rotavirus infection does not appear to be more severe in HIV-infected infants.
▸ The rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq) that would be used in HIV-positive children is attenuated considerably.
The previous wording of the childhood vaccination schedule stated that data were insufficient to support the administration of rotavirus vaccine for HIV-infected children and infants, and therefore practitioners should consider the risks and benefits before vaccinating these patients.
“So the option was there for physicians to vaccinate based on the risks and benefits,” Dr. Seward said.
Although studies in the United States are limited because of the small numbers of HIV-infected children, recent data from large studies in Africa support evidence that rotavirus disease is not more severe in HIV-positive infants and children than in those who don't have HIV, although more data are needed in older children, Dr. Seward explained.
The rotavirus vaccine is as safe as other similar vaccines given to HIV-infected children, she added. She cited the oral polio vaccine as an example; it is considered safe for HIV-infected children and replicates more quickly in the digestive tract than does the rotavirus vaccine.
No trials to assess the safety and efficacy of the rotavirus vaccine in HIV-infected children are planned for the United States, but manufacturers including GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co. are planning additional studies in developing countries where the burden of disease is greater, Dr. Seward said.