MONDAY, June 8, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Risk factors for not starting rotavirus vaccine (RVV), for which the first dose is recommended before the maximum age of 14 weeks, 6 days, include extremely preterm birth and lack of health insurance, according to a study published online June 8. Pediatrics.
Mary C. Moran, Ph.D., MPH, of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues examined factors associated with not starting or completing the RVV series and the chance of missing the vaccine among children born on or after January 1, 2007, enrolled in the Surilla New Vaccine Status Network.
In total, 24,755 children met the inclusion criteria. The researchers found that receiving diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine at age ≥15 weeks, very preterm birth, birth soon after RVV was introduced (2007 to 2009), and lack of health insurance were stronger risk factors associated with not initiating RVV (odds ratio, 312.312). respectively). Among very preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), more than 50 percent were not discharged until ≥15 weeks of age.
“Strict age restrictions and recommendations against RVV administration in the NICU create additional barriers to RVV uptake,” the authors wrote. “Reevaluation of guidelines for RVV management in the NICU may help reduce the number of infants who miss the opportunity to be vaccinated and benefit from these vaccines.”
Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.
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