What the Rotavirus vaccine protects against
The most common cause of severe diarrhoea and vomiting in babies and toddlers, leading to dehydration that often needs hospital treatment.
Also known as: Rotarix, RotaTeq, given as oral drops
Why children are given it
Before the vaccine, nearly every child had a rotavirus infection by age five and it was a leading reason for young children being admitted to hospital. The course must be started early (before 15 weeks) for safety reasons.
From each country's official schedule, checked against its sources (last full check 2026-09-16). Tap a country for its whole schedule and a personalised timeline.
| Country | Routine doses |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8 weeks (1st of 2) Rotavirus vaccine 12 weeks (2nd of 2)
Rotavirus vaccine |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 2 months (1st of 2-3) Rotavirus (RV) 4 months (2nd)
Rotavirus (RV) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 2 months (1st of 2-3) Rotavirus 4 months (2nd) Rotavirus 6 months (3rd if needed)
Rotavirus (3rd, brand dependent) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 2 months (from 6 weeks) (1st of 2) Rotavirus 4 months (2nd of 2)
Rotavirus |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 6 weeks (1st of 2) Rotavirus (Rotarix) 14 weeks (2nd of 2)
Rotavirus (Rotarix) |
| 🇮🇳 India | 6 weeks (1st of 3) Rotavirus (RVV-1) 10 weeks (2nd of 3) Rotavirus (RVV-2) 14 weeks (3rd of 3)
Rotavirus (RVV-3) |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 6 weeks (1st of 2-3) Rotavirus 2 months (2nd)
Rotavirus |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 2 months (1st of 2) Rotavirus 4 months (2nd of 2)
Rotavirus |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 6 weeks (1st of 2) Rotarix (rotavirus) 3 months (2nd of 2)
Rotarix (rotavirus) |
| 🇫🇷 France | 2 months (1st of 2 (recommended)) Rotavirus 4 months (2nd (recommended))
Rotavirus |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 6 to 9 weeks (1st of 2) Rotavirus 3 months (2nd of 2)
Rotavirus |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2 months (1st of 2) Rotavirus (VORH) 4 months (2nd of 2)
Rotavirus (VORH) |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Not on the routine schedule |
Good to know
- Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea and vomiting in babies, and a frequent reason for hospital admission with dehydration.
- There are strict age limits: the course must be started early (usually before 15 weeks) and finished by about 6 to 8 months, so it cannot be caught up later.
- The vaccine virus can be passed in nappies for a couple of weeks, so wash hands well after changes.
Side effects: what is normal
- It is given as drops by mouth, so there is no needle.
- Some babies become a little irritable or have mild diarrhoea for a few days.
- Very rarely (around 1 in 50,000 babies), it can cause a bowel blockage called intussusception, usually within a week. Seek urgent help if your baby has severe tummy pain, repeated vomiting or blood in their nappy.
Most side effects are mild and pass within a day or two. Get medical advice straight away if your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a fit, a temperature of 38°C or more in a baby under 3 months, or you are worried in any way. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist can advise on your own child.
It depends on the country. Across the 12 countries that include it on their routine schedule, the first dose is given from 6 weeks to 8 weeks. In the UK it is given at 8 weeks, 12 weeks. In the US it is given at 2 months, 4 months. The table on this page shows every country.
Routine schedules give 2 to 3 doses in childhood, depending on the country and the product used. Combination vaccines can mean one injection counts towards several diseases.
It is routine in 12 of the 14 countries on this site. We do not currently list it on the childhood schedule for Russia and Singapore - some countries run separate regional, seasonal or risk-group programmes, so ask your local clinic.
Yes. Vaccines on the childhood schedule are given by age, not by sex - girls and boys receive the same doses at the same ages.
It is almost never too late to catch up, and a missed dose rarely means starting again - your doctor or nurse will continue from where your child left off. A few vaccines (such as rotavirus) have upper age limits. Contact your clinic to book a catch-up appointment.
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Australia - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- South Africa - National Department of Health - Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- Germany - Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute / ECDC
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- New Zealand - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora / Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
- France - Ministere de la Sante / Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) - calendrier vaccinal
- Netherlands - RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma)
- Brazil - Ministerio da Saude - Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes (PNI)
- Russia - Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation - National Preventive Vaccination Calendar
- Singapore - Ministry of Health (MOH) / Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) - National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS)
- NHS - Rotavirus vaccine (side effects and more)
- NHS - NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- CDC - Possible side effects from vaccines
- WHO - Vaccines and immunization
How we research and check this information: our editorial policy.
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