A latest study has shown that the rotavirus vaccines have helped drastically reduce hospital visits around the world. Rotavirus can lead to fatal cases of diarrhea in children and causes half a million deaths in kids under five each year around the world. Developing countries are particularly at risk.
The latest study appears in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal and it says that the number of severe cases can be massively cut if countries make the vaccine a routine part of children’s doctor visits. Since introducing the vaccine in 2006, the United States has seen a 58 to 86 percent reduction in such hospitalizations over three years, said the study. In Australia the drop was of 89 to 94 percent since 2007, and El Salvador saw a 69 to 81 percent drop in hospital visits among children under five. Mexico, which introduced the vaccine in 2007, saw a 40 percent drop in diarrhea-related hospitalizations in 2009.
The studies published in a supplement to The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, also show large reductions in rotavirus disease among older, unvaccinated children, suggesting that vaccination of babies may also limit the overall amount of virus transmission, giving what is known as “herd immunity.”
According to Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “These studies add to the growing body of evidence that shows rotavirus vaccines are safe, effective and most importantly, saving children’s lives…Unfortunately, too many children around the world get severely ill or die from this preventable disease. We must continue to expand our efforts to ensure that children around the world have access to these vaccines.”
The World Health Organization in 2009 has urged all countries to include rotavirus vaccines in their national immunization programs. Rotavirus vaccines made by various pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Sanofi-Aventis are now part of the regular vaccination schedule for babies in many developed and some middle-income countries.
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) said it is seeking four billion dollars from donors to help buy and distribute the rotavirus vaccine in needy nations. Helen Evans, interim chief executive officer of the GAVI Alliance said, “Rotavirus vaccines have enormous potential to save lives, and it is tragic that they are not more widely available to the children who need them most.” Dr. John Wecker, director of the vaccine access and delivery global program at the non-profit organization PATH said, “In both the developed and developing worlds, we see a rapid and impressive reduction in rotavirus infections following the roll-out of vaccine.”
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