An article on Where,when and how much is the Cost of Rotavirus Vaccine in Nigeria, rotavirus vaccine price in Nigeria, rotavirus vaccine schedule in Nigeria.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there are more than 100 million cases of acute diarrhoea annually in developing countries, with 3-4 million deaths, half of these are infants are children.
In developed countries, diarrhoea remains an important problem and the elderly are most vulnerable. The majority of epidsodes are due to infections spread through the feco-oral route and transmitted either on fomites, on contaminated hands, or in food or water.
Diarrhoea can be caused by bacteria or viruses but viruses called rotaviruses are the commonest cause of diarrhoea in children world wide.
Now let us talk more about rotaviruses, how they cause acute watery diarrhoea and the best way to prevent episodes of rotavirus diarrhoea – rotavirus vaccination.
Rotavirus are the major cause of diarrhoeal diseases in young children worldwide and cause 10-20 percent of deaths due to gastroenteritis in developing countries. There are are winter epidemics in developed countries, particularly in school nurseries.
Adults are less often infected but those in close contact with cases may develop disease. The virus infects enterocytes(lining of the intestine of your baby), causing decreased surface absorption.
The incubation period of rotavirus is 48 hours and children present with watery diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. Dehydration is also prominent.
Diagnosis of rotavirus is aided by commercially available enzyme immunoassay kits, which require fresh or refrigerated stool samples.
VACCINATION AGAINST ROTAVIRUS
Monovalent and multivalent rotavirus vaccines have been licensed in many countries and have now demonstrated efficacy in large trails in Africa and the Americas.
How many doses of the rotavirus vaccine should yout baby have and at what age plus route of administration
The trade name of rotavirus vaccine is ROTARIX. The vaccination series consists of two doses administered orally. The first dose should be administered to infants beginning at 6 weeks of age. There should be an interval of at least 4 weeks between the first and second dose. The 2-dose series should be completed by 24 weeks of age.
Side effects of rotavirus vaccines
Increased rate of intussusception were observed with early rotavirus vaccines, but the benefits of the recently licensed vaccines outweigh the risk. Other rare side effects are:irritability, cough, diarrhea, runny nose, poor appetite for food, fever and allergy.
Where, and how much is the cost of Rotavirus Vaccine in Nigeria?
Nigerian parents still pay out of pocket to get rotavirus vaccination for their babies as it is yet to be included in the National Programme on Immunization (NPI) by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The cost of getting rotavirus vaccine for your baby is around #10,000 – #20,000 naira per dose and your baby will need two doses. In summary, getting the 2 doses of rotavirus vaccine in Nigeria may cost you about #30,000 naira.
Not all hospitals in Nigeria have the rotavirus vaccine in stock, in Benin-city you can get your baby vaccinated at UBTH, NNPC medical, Modic, St. Philomena, Military Hospital and Lily Hospital.
In Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, Kaduna and other states in Nigeria, go to any of the teaching hospitals for your babies rotavirus vaccine. Plans are underway by the federal government to include the rotavirus vaccine in our National Immunization Schedule to make it free.
PROPER HANDWASHING AND PERSONAL HYGIENE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA IN CHILDREN.
Sources:
Dr Udomoh
Dr Ogefere Tega
Davidson’s Principle and Practice of Medicine
Featured Image: European Pharmaceutical Review
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