Many doctors are recommending parents give their children a vaccine that is not covered by health care.
A new American study shows that RotaTeq goes a long way in protecting babies and toddlers from rotavirus - an intestinal illness that leads to vomiting, diarrhea and severe dehydration. "Only around half of children got one dose of rotavirus vaccine and yet it seems there was a dramatic drop in the overall cases," says Dr. Jim Kellner who specializes in infectious diseases at the Alberta Children's Hospital.
Canada's national advisory committee on immunization says parents should give their kids the rotavirus vaccine.
It is up to each province to decide if they will cover the cost. In Alberta, the vaccine is not covered which means parents will have to pay $165 for the three doses which are given when the child is two-months, four-months and six-months.
Every year, 5,000 babies in Canada are hospitalized with rotavirus.
