Rotavirus vaccines well tolerated in infants with HIV

**Steele A. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011;30:125-130.**

Three doses of a rotavirus vaccine were well tolerated by a group of infants with HIV, according to results of a study published online.

Andrew Duncan Steele, PhD, and colleagues of WHO reported on a group of 100 infants who were randomly assigned to receive the vaccine RIX4414 or placebo.

The researchers noted similar incidences of symptoms, as well as comparable rates of mean absolute CD4 counts, and viral load. Adverse events were also similar in both groups, with six fatal serious adverse events in the vaccine group and nine in the placebo group. Seroconversion rates were 57.1% (95% CI, 34-78.2) in the RIX4414 group and 18.2% (95% CI, 5.2-40.3) in the placebo group.

The researchers said rotavirus shedding peaked at day 7 after the first rotavirus vaccine dose.

Current WHO recommendations call for physicians to use their discretion when immunizing babies who are immunocompromised against rotavirus; however, in South Africa, where many women get their health care in antenatal clinics, this strategy may be less practical, according to the researchers.

“This study supports rotavirus vaccination in HIV-positive infants as it demonstrates good immunogenicity with no safety issues,” they said.

Disclosures: The research was supported by grants from WHO, PATH, the Norwegian Program for Development, Research and Higher Education research grant (PRO 48/2002), and the South African Medical Research Council. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals provided funding.

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