Rotavirus Vaccine Cost in the Philippines 2026
Quick Answer: The rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix, pre-filled syringe) costs ₱2,949 per dose at Southstar Drug, as of August 2026 — though it was listed as out of stock at the time we checked, which reflects real availability swings for this vaccine. Rotavirus vaccine is not part of the free National Immunization Program (NIP) — it's a private-sector infant vaccine, and your pediatrician sets the actual dosing schedule.
About these figures: The ₱2,949 price for Rotarix comes directly from Southstar Drug's official online store (southstardrug.com.ph), checked on August 31, 2026. At the time of that check, the product was listed as out of stock — a real, current availability status, not a typo. We also checked The Generics Pharmacy and Rose Pharmacy and found rotavirus vaccine is not carried by either. Branch and online stock levels change; confirm current availability before planning a visit. Last checked: August 2026.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Rotavirus Vaccine?
- How Much Does the Rotavirus Vaccine Cost?
- Is the Rotavirus Vaccine Free in the Philippines?
- Why Isn't Rotavirus Vaccine on the Free NIP List?
- When Is the Rotavirus Vaccine Given?
- Where to Get the Rotavirus Vaccine
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is the Rotavirus Vaccine?
Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus and the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide, spreading easily through contaminated hands, surfaces, and objects — daycare and household settings are common transmission points. Severe cases can lead to dangerous dehydration, occasionally requiring hospitalization, particularly in very young infants.
The rotavirus vaccine is given orally (as drops, not an injection) and protects against the most common rotavirus strains. Rotarix is the brand available in the Philippine private market, administered as a pre-filled oral syringe rather than a shot.
Rotavirus infection is extremely common in early childhood — nearly every child worldwide is infected at least once by age five, vaccinated or not — but the vaccine substantially lowers the risk of the severe, dehydrating diarrhea that sends infants to the emergency room or requires hospital admission for IV fluids. Because the virus spreads so easily through everyday contact, and because young infants have the least reserve to handle fluid loss, rotavirus vaccination is generally discussed as a well-baby visit topic rather than something reserved for high-risk children only.
How Much Does the Rotavirus Vaccine Cost?
| Provider | Product | Price (Aug 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Southstar Drug | Rotarix pre-filled syringe | ₱2,949 (listed out of stock at check) |
| The Generics Pharmacy | — | Not carried |
| Rose Pharmacy | — | Not carried |
At ₱2,949 per dose, rotavirus vaccine is one of the more expensive infant vaccines available in the private sector, and — as our own check found — it isn't always in stock even where it's carried. Since a full rotavirus vaccination course typically requires more than one dose, budget for the total course cost, not just a single dose, when planning with your pediatrician. Call ahead to confirm both price and stock before a scheduled visit, since availability can shift.
Is the Rotavirus Vaccine Free in the Philippines?
No. Rotavirus vaccine is not part of the National Immunization Program (NIP), per the PIDSP/PPS/PFV 2026 immunization schedule. The NIP's free vaccine list — BCG, bivalent OPV, IPV, Pentavalent, PCV, and MMR — does not include rotavirus, unlike some of those other routine shots. That makes rotavirus a private-sector-only vaccine in the Philippines at this time: parents who want their child vaccinated against rotavirus pay out of pocket for it, whether through a pediatrician's clinic, a hospital, or a pharmacy offering the shot.
If you've seen rotavirus vaccine offered free through a specific hospital program, employer health benefit, or HMO plan, that's a private or employer-funded benefit rather than a government NIP entitlement — confirm the source and terms directly with whoever is offering it.
Why Isn't Rotavirus Vaccine on the Free NIP List?
The NIP prioritizes a defined core list of vaccines for universal free distribution, and which vaccines make that list is a public health policy decision weighing disease burden, cost, and supply against the government's health budget — not something this guide can explain or predict. What we can confirm, based on the current PIDSP/PPS/PFV 2026 immunization schedule, is simply that rotavirus is not currently on that free list, alongside a handful of other vaccines (typhoid, seasonal flu, chickenpox, hepatitis A) that are similarly private-sector-only for now. That could change in future schedule updates — check the current schedule, not this page's publish date, if you're reading this well after August 2026.
When Is the Rotavirus Vaccine Given?
Rotavirus vaccine is an infant vaccine, given in the first several months of life, and — because it's an oral live vaccine — it has a specific age window recommended by manufacturers and pediatric guidelines. We won't state specific ages here: rotavirus dosing timing is a decision for your child's pediatrician, who will factor in your baby's exact age, prior doses, and overall health. What you should do is bring it up at your baby's regular pediatric visits and ask directly whether — and when — rotavirus vaccination fits your child's schedule.
For the full picture of which vaccines are free and which are private across your child's first years, see our Pediatric Vaccination Schedule guide.
Where to Get the Rotavirus Vaccine
- Your child's pediatrician's clinic — the most common route; ask about current stock and pricing directly, since it changes.
- Southstar Drug — confirmed to carry Rotarix, though listed out of stock at our August 2026 check; call to confirm current availability.
- Private hospitals with pediatric vaccination services — many stock rotavirus vaccine as part of routine well-baby visits.
Given the stock volatility we found, calling ahead is not optional for this particular vaccine — more so than for most other shots on this site.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the rotavirus vaccine cost in the Philippines?
₱2,949 per dose for Rotarix at Southstar Drug, as of our August 2026 check — though it was listed out of stock at that time. It's not carried by The Generics Pharmacy or Rose Pharmacy. Since a full course is more than one dose, ask your pediatrician for the total course cost.
Is the rotavirus vaccine free in the Philippines?
No. It's not part of the National Immunization Program's free vaccine list. It's a private-sector vaccine that parents pay for out of pocket, whether through a pediatrician, hospital, or pharmacy.
Why isn't rotavirus vaccine free like other infant vaccines?
The NIP's free list is set by public health policy based on disease burden, cost, and supply — this guide can't explain that decision, only confirm that rotavirus currently sits outside the free list per the PIDSP/PPS/PFV 2026 schedule, alongside a few other private-sector-only vaccines.
Is Rotarix given as a shot or drops?
Drops — it's administered orally via a pre-filled syringe, not injected. This is different from most other infant vaccines, which are given by injection.
When should my baby get the rotavirus vaccine?
That's a decision for your pediatrician, based on your baby's exact age and health. Rotavirus vaccine has a specific recommended age window because it's a live oral vaccine — ask your pediatrician directly at a well-baby visit rather than estimating the timing yourself.
Why was the rotavirus vaccine out of stock when you checked?
We can only report what we observed at the source we checked (Southstar Drug's online store, August 31, 2026) — out of stock at that specific moment. Stock levels shift; check directly with the pharmacy or your pediatrician's clinic for current availability before planning a visit.
Does PhilHealth cover rotavirus vaccine?
Since it's outside the NIP's free vaccine program, rotavirus vaccine is generally an out-of-pocket private expense. For broader vaccine pricing and coverage context, see our Vaccine Cost Guide.
Conclusion
Rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) costs ₱2,949 per dose at Southstar Drug as of August 2026, though it was out of stock at the time of our check — a reminder to confirm availability before you go. It's a private-sector vaccine, not part of the free National Immunization Program, so budgeting for the full course with your pediatrician is worth doing ahead of time.
For the complete picture of what's free versus private across your child's early vaccines, see our Pediatric Vaccination Schedule guide and Vaccine Cost Guide, or check the specific list of free NIP vaccines for babies. Search ClinicFinderPH to find a pediatric clinic near you.