Impact of rotavirus vaccines on rotavirus disease

Abstract

Rotaviruses are the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. Both licensed rotavirus vaccines (Rotarix™ [RV1] and RotaTeq™ [RV5]) are effective and safe. Studies from countries that have included RV1 or RV5 in the national immunization programs have demonstrated their safety and sustained efficacy under real-life circumstances. A significant decline in acute gastroenteritis-related deaths among Latin American children was observed after the introduction of RV1 and RV5 vaccines. Both vaccines were able to decrease the number of cases of rotavirus acute gastroenteritis and of severe rotavirus diseases. Vaccination was also associated with a dramatic reduction in hospitalizations and outpatient visits for all-cause acute gastroenteritis. Indirect protection after infant mass vaccination has been strongly suggested. Moreover, postlicensure safety studies assessed rare adverse events (rates <1 in 50,000), such as intussusception.

Keywords::

• gastroenteritis
• rotavirus
• rotavirus disease
• rotavirus vaccines
• vaccines

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the reviewers whose constructive comments helped to improve the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

P Lepage has received honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals for chairing expert meetings on rotavirus vaccines and travel fees from Aventis-Pasteur. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the paper apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.