Dozens of babies in the United States have reportedly developed a potentially deadly bowel problem after getting Merck's RotaTeq vaccine. The babies developed intussusception, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition in which the intestine gets blocked or twisted. RotaTeq was approved by the FDA in 2006 and targets rotavirus, a leading cause of childrens' diarrhea.
Approximately 3.5 million doses of RotaTeq had been distributed in the United States as of February 1, 2007, but not all of those doses have been administered.
Parents should contact their child's doctor immediately if the child has stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in their stool, or change in their bowel movements.
