How many doses of Rotavirus vaccine are required?

Appeared in: Punjab CHO - 2021

Explanation

Under India's National Immunization Programme, the Rotavirus vaccine is administered as a 3-dose series.
The doses are given orally at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age to protect infants from severe gastroenteritis.
While a 2-dose schedule exists for the Rotarix brand, the 3-dose schedule is standard for vaccines like Rotavac, RotaTeq, and Rotasiil, which are commonly used.
Completing the full 3-dose series is essential for developing robust immunity against the virus.

Option B: A single dose of the Rotavirus vaccine is insufficient to confer adequate and sustained protection against the infection.
Option C: A 4-dose schedule is not a standard or recommended regimen for any type of Rotavirus vaccine.
Option D: A 5-dose schedule is not used for Rotavirus vaccination. This would be an excessive number of doses beyond any established protocol.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Immunization schedule for Rotavirus vaccine as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are responsible for educating parents on the importance of adhering to the complete 3-dose schedule to ensure the child is protected from severe rotavirus-induced diarrhea.
Accurate documentation of each administered dose in the child's immunization record is a critical nursing function for continuity of care and public health tracking.
What if? If a parent brings a 16-week-old infant for their first dose, the nurse should know that the series cannot be initiated because the maximum age for the first dose is before 15 weeks. The nurse must explain this to the parent and document the reason for non-vaccination.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on standard immunization guidelines.
Identify the key subject of the question: the number of doses for the Rotavirus vaccine.
Recall the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) or Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) for infants in India.
Remember that the Rotavirus vaccine is given at 6, 10, and 14 weeks, which totals three doses.
Select the option that matches this number.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) pp. 201-203, 200-202

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1606-1608

Practise the full Punjab CHO - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.