In May of 2010, the manufacturer (Merck and Co.) who produces our practice's oral rotavirus vaccine notified the public that quality-control measures found small fragments of a porcine DNA virus in its production. The rotavirus vaccine is typically given at the 2-, 4-, and 6-month well-child visits.
The porcine virus is common in pigs in the U.S. and other developed countries, and this virus is not known to cause any illness or other problems in human beings. It is found in pork (see page 2, lines 3 and 4 of the linked World Health Organization website), so children are exposed to it on a regular basis. Please see the WHO link for further details. Based on this information and what we as a practice have learned about the vaccine--which helps protect infants against severe vomiting and diarrhea which commonly lead to hospitalization for dehydration--we feel confident in its safety and in following the Food & Drug Administration and American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to continue its use.
