Impact of rotavirus vaccination on diarrheal disease burden of children in South America.

Expert Rev Vaccines

Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Published: May 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • - Rotavirus is a major cause of severe diarrhea and mortality in children under five, and vaccination is crucial for reducing its impact, especially in South America where nine out of twelve countries have implemented the vaccine with over 90% coverage in 2022.
  • - The introduction of the rotavirus vaccine has significantly decreased hospitalization and death rates from diarrheal diseases in children, with notable improvements in countries like Brazil (59% fewer hospitalizations) and Peru (46% in infants), indicating a reduction in rotavirus-related deaths by 15-50% across the region.
  • - While the vaccine has proven effective, evidence suggests that immunity may diminish after the first year, making continuous monitoring of vaccination outcomes and disease prevalence essential to ensure ongoing protection

Article Abstract

Introduction: Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease and death in children under five years of age worldwide. Vaccination is one of the most important public health interventions to reduce this significant burden.

Areas Covered: This literature review examined vaccination coverage, hospitalization rate, mortality, genotypic distribution, immunogenicity, cost-effectiveness, and risk versus benefit of rotavirus vaccination in children in South America. Nine out of twelve countries in South America currently include a rotavirus vaccine in their national immunization program with coverage rates in 2022 above 90%.

Expert Opinion: Introduction of the rotavirus vaccination has led to a marked reduction in hospitalizations and deaths from diarrheal diseases in children under 5 years, particularly infants under 1 year, in several South American countries. In Brazil, hospitalizations decreased by 59% and deaths by 21% (30-38% in infants). In Peru, hospitalizations in infants fell by 46% and deaths by 37% (56% in infants). Overall, data suggest that rotavirus vaccination has reduced rotavirus deaths by 15-50% in various South American countries. There is some evidence that immunity wanes after the age of 1-year old. Ongoing surveillance of vaccine coverage and changes in morbidity and mortality is important to maximize protection against this disease.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14760584.2024.2360212DOI Listing

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