Rotarix Dose Volume in the UK
Rotarix is administered as 1.5 mL per dose orally. 1
Dosing Specifications
- Each dose of Rotarix consists of 1.5 mL of oral liquid administered directly into the infant's mouth 1
- The vaccine is supplied as a liquid requiring no reconstitution and should be administered orally, not injected 1
- Rotarix is given as a 2-dose series at 2 and 4 months of age 2
UK-Specific Context
- The UK incorporated Rotarix into the national immunisation schedule in 2013 following a tender process 3
- The vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy in preventing severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in the first 3 years of life in middle- and high-income countries like the UK 3
Critical Age Restrictions
- The first dose must be administered between 6 weeks and 14 weeks, 6 days of age 2
- Vaccination should not be initiated for infants aged 15 weeks or older 2
- The minimum interval between doses is 4 weeks 2, 1
- All doses must be completed by 8 months, 0 days of age 2
Administration Considerations
- Rotarix may be given concurrently with other routine infant vaccines, including DTaP, Hib, IPV, hepatitis B, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 1
- No restrictions are placed on the infant's feeding before or after receipt of rotavirus vaccine 2
- Breastfed infants should be vaccinated according to the same schedule as non-breastfed infants 2
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not use corrected age for preterm infants—chronological age from birth should always be used 1
- There is no catch-up schedule for rotavirus vaccines; infants who miss the age window cannot be vaccinated later 1
- The vaccine carries a small risk of intussusception within the week of vaccination when administered according to the recommended schedule, but this risk is negligible at the population level 3