Overview
- CDC testing shows rotavirus positivity near 8% this spring, and wastewater programs report higher concentrations in several states, including a resurgence in New Jersey.
- Children’s hospitals report more visits for dehydration in babies and toddlers, with many patients too young for shots or not fully vaccinated.
- Two oral vaccines given as drops starting at 2 months cut severe disease by about 85% to 90% and have reduced pediatric hospitalizations by an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 a year since 2006.
- U.S. coverage has slipped from about 77% in 2018 to roughly 74% in 2024, and a January 2026 shift away from a universal recommendation—now paused by a judge—has fueled concern about further declines.
- There is no antiviral for rotavirus, so care focuses on rehydration, which can mean IV fluids for severe cases and stressful ER trips for families.