England has decided on the vaccine Rotarix for the immunization of all babies aged two months in an effort to more than halve its annual cases of the vomitting and diarrhea bug rotavirus.

The shot – already recommended for use in the US along with rival vaccine RotaTeq – has been made available in England from July 1st. This is part of a series of changes to the national immunization program through 2013 and 2014, as decided by Public Health England (PHE), the Department of Health, and National Health Service England.

Rotarix will be offered to all babies when they attend their first and second routine childhood immunizations. The first dose will be given at two months of age, while the second dose will be given four weeks later at three months. The vaccination is a clear, colorless liquid that is given to the child orally through a dropper, making it easy for the child to swallow.

PHE says the rotavirus infection is the UK’s most common cause of gastroenteritis – giving rise to around half of all vomiting and diarrhea cases. Although the virus can be contracted at any age, nearly every child will contract rotavirus gastroenteritis by the age of five.

The virus is highly contagious and is most commonly transmitted via hand-to-mouth contact, although it can also be spread by coughing and sneezing. The most common symptoms are a mild fever, severe diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps, problems that can lead to dehydration.

The virus is responsible for 130,000 visits to doctors in England each year as well as 13,000 hospitalizations for dehydration, according to PHE. It is hoped the vaccination will reduce rotavirus-related hospital stays by more than 70%.

PHE Medical Director and Health Protection Director Dr Paul Cosford says that while most children will recover from the illness within a few days, nearly 1 in 5 will need to visit a doctor and 1 in 10 will end up in hospital. He adds that while good hygiene measures can help prevent the spread of disease, the best way to protect infants is by vaccination.

According to the Green Book (the immunization schedule followed by public health professionals and published by the PHE), the Rotarix vaccine is over 85% effective at protecting against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in the first two years of a baby’s life.

The minimum age a child can receive the vaccination is six weeks, while the maximum age for the first dose is 15 weeks. The maximum age the second dose can be administered is 24 weeks.

Research cited by the PHE suggests Rotarix may contribute to a small increased risk of intussusception within seven days of vaccination, possibly 2 cases per 100,000 first doses given. Intussusception is a condition of the intestines that can occur naturally, when a section of the bowel folds in on itself, creating a blockage.

However, the PHE says the benefit of the vaccination in preventing the consequences of rotavirus infection greatly outweighs the small risk of intussusception in young infants.

Dr Cosford says: “The new vaccine will provide protection to those young babies who are most vulnerable to complications arising from rotavirus. From now on parents will be offered this protection alongside their baby’s other childhood vaccinations.”