Global impact of rotavirus vaccines.

The WHO has recently recommended the inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in the national immunization programs of all countries. In countries in the Americas, Europe and Australia that have adopted routine childhood immunization against rotavirus, significant reductions in the burden of severe childhood diarrhea have been observed. Besides protecting vaccinated children, disease rates also appear to be reduced in unvaccinated children, suggesting indirect benefits from vaccination (i.e., herd protection). Early clinical trial data from Africa and Asia are promising, and further efforts are needed to optimize the benefits of vaccination in developing countries where vaccines are likely to have their greatest impact.