Objectives A pentavalent 3-dose rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq, has been available in the US since February 2006. The recommended schedule is first dose given at age 6–12 weeks and doses 2 and 3 at 4- to 10-week intervals; dose 3 administered before 32 weeks. We assessed implementation for the first 18 months compared with that for DTaP vaccine.

Methods Using a US health insurance claims database, we identified infants enrolled in the health plan within one week of birth, with first RotaTeq or DTaP vaccination from January 2006 through June 30, 2007. We assessed adherence to the recommended schedules. They were followed until: one year old, study end (December 31, 2007) or disenrollment from the health plan.

Results Median age at first dose for the 93,756 infants who had received DTaP and for the 48,586 infants who had received RotaTeq was 9 weeks; median age at doses 2 and 3 were 18 weeks and 26 weeks, respectively, for both. Among infants who first received DTaP in the first half of 2006, 21% also received at least one dose of RotaTeq; this increased to 63% in the first half of 2007. 62% infants received a third RotaTeq dose (versus 65% for the third dose of DTaP); only 3% received it beyond the recommended 32 weeks.

Conclusion After 18 months of availability, RotaTeq uptake has increased significantly. The dosing patterns, including completion of schedules for RotaTeq and DTaP appear to be similar and are consistent with the recommended dosing schedules of both vaccines.