Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Following Rotavirus Vaccination in Children: A Systematic Review.
Francesca Musto, Antonio Corsello, Sara Curto et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review assessed gastrointestinal adverse events after RV1 and RV5 rotavirus vaccination in children, drawing on randomised trials, meta-analyses, and case reports published from 2007 onwards. Of 197 studies identified, 86 met the inclusion criteria. Transient diarrhoea and vomiting were common and generally self-limited. The review found no increased risk of prolonged diarrhoea in healthy infants, intussusception, or immune-mediated conditions such as coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease. Rare prolonged diarrhoea cases occurred in children with severe immunodeficiency; the authors concluded that the vaccines retain an excellent safety profile.
Key findings
- Of 197 identified studies, 86 met the review’s inclusion criteria.
- Mild diarrhoea and vomiting were common but typically self-limited.
- No increased risk of prolonged diarrhoea was identified in healthy infants.
- The review found no increased risk of intussusception, coeliac disease, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Why it matters
The findings provide a broad synthesis of gastrointestinal safety evidence for two widely used rotavirus vaccines. They distinguish expected, short-lived symptoms from uncommon prolonged diarrhoea associated with severe immunodeficiency, while finding no increased risk of the specified serious gastrointestinal outcomes. This context can help clinicians interpret post-vaccination symptoms without overstating the evidence.
What to keep in mind
The review included heterogeneous evidence types, including case reports, and the abstract provides no pooled effect estimates or detailed assessment of study quality.