The essentials
- Usual timing
- 2 and 4 months in Ontario’s routine program
- How to get it
- Ask a primary care provider or public health unit about local appointments and funding.
A liquid given by mouth that helps prevent severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration caused by rotavirus. It does not add another needle to the visit.
Age limits matter: start before 15 weeks and finish before 8 months. Contact the clinic promptly about a missed dose. Age-limit guidance
School status
Recommended and publicly funded for eligible infants; not required for school.
Side effects & precautions
Temporary irritability, diarrhea or vomiting can happen. Feeding or breastfeeding can continue as usual. Side-effect guidance
There is a small increased risk of intussusception, a type of bowel blockage. Seek urgent medical care for repeated episodes of severe belly pain, repeated vomiting, blood in the stool or unusual weakness. Tell the provider about past intussusception or an immune-system condition before vaccination.
Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the tongue or throat. Not sure whether a reaction is expected? Contact a healthcare provider or call 811 for advice. Seek care promptly if symptoms are worrying or getting worse.
A baby under 3 months with a fever needs urgent assessment. Do not assume the fever is from vaccination.
Useful to know
A time-sensitive vaccine
Start from 6 weeks and before 15 weeks of age; finish all doses before 8 months. If a dose was missed, contact the clinic promptly — later catch-up may not be possible. Rotavirus timing and age limits
What is in it?
Rotarix is a live, weakened-virus vaccine used in Ontario’s two-dose program. Other countries or provinces may use a three-dose product. The clinic should review previous doses and the product used.
After a dose
Wash hands well after diaper changes because vaccine virus can pass in stool. Mention a close household contact with a severely weakened immune system to the provider.
Ingredients & more detail
Check the exact product
Ask the clinic for the product name. Its official Canadian product information (product monograph) lists ingredients, packaging, side effects and precautions. This page is a short overview, not a complete safety list.
Find a product in Health Canada’s Drug Product Database
Rotarix — Canadian product monograph (PDF). This is one product example; confirm which product the clinic uses.
Your next step
Bring the immunization record and a list of questions to the visit. Ask which doses count, what comes next and how to report new doses to public health.
Sources and references (5)
Program details can change. How this guide is reviewed