Ineffective baby vaccine in Gauteng

8 August 2016

Some hospitals in Gauteng have had an increased incidence of babies with gastroenteritis despite having taken the Rotavirus vaccination that should have prevented this.

Rotaviruses are the leading cause of severe diarrhoea in children which can lead to dehydration and hospitalization.

I have been contacted by concerned mothers who say that their babies got the vaccine either at a state clinic or a private pharmacy, but had to be hospitalized after contracting gastroenteritis.

The private Arwyp hospital in Kempton Park has seen a number of such cases and is investigating why the Rotavirus vaccine was ineffective.

There are seven varieties of Rotavirus, and the available vaccines protect against five of them, so it is possible that there is an outbreak of the two other strains.

 The other possibility is that the vaccines were rendered ineffective because they were not refrigerated at some stage, particularly in the East Rand where most of the cases appear to have occurred.

 The companies producing the vaccines need to explain why they have not worked and ensure that babies are properly immunized against this highly contagious virus.

Symptoms of rotavirus infection, which may last up to eight days, include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and frequent, watery diarrhoea. 

The Gauteng Health Department should institute an urgent investigation and a plan to prevent a possible increase in Rotavirus infections.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 8 August 2016