ACSH staffers over the weekend received commentary from a reader condemning our recent praise for Dr. Paul Offit after she mistakenly confused his rotavirus vaccine Rotateq with Rotashield. While Rotateq remains on the market as a highly effective vaccine, Rotashield was removed from the market over ten years ago after a very small number of children developed obstructed bowels, even though the vaccine likely prevented thousands from getting sick from rotavirus.
Therefore, ACSH continues to congratulate Dr. Offit and his team for the development of Rotateq — which recently received the 2010 Prix Galien USA Award and continues to save the lives of thousands of children globally — and we hope this clarifies any confusion that other readers may have had.
