In "Intussusception" (Action Stat, February 2007),* a 5-month-old infant named Emily had a painful bowel obstruction. I'd like to add another step to her assessment: Ask the parent if Emily has received any doses of the new rotavirus vaccine called RotaTeq. By 5 months of age, Emily could have received one or two doses.

RotaTeq helps to prevent rotavirus infection, a serious diarrhea-type illness. A similar rotavirus vaccine was taken off the market in 1999 after cases of intussusception were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The current vaccine, RotaTeq, was approved after extensive safety testing for adverse reactions, especially intussusception. However, to help officials assess possible post-marketing problems, intussusception and any other adverse event that occurs shortly after vaccination must be reported to the CDC's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) at http://www.vaers.hhs.gov.

CINDY FARR, RN, BSN

Immunization Action Plan, Marietta City Health Dept., Marietta, Ohio

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