OBJECTIVES: Rotavirus vaccination was introduced in Brazil in March 2006, targeting an annual birth cohort of approximately 3.5 million. We analyzed trends in all-cause gastroenteritis-related deaths in children <5 years of age during the pre- and post-vaccination periods. METHODS: Data from the National Immunization Program and the Mortality Information System were used to calculate vaccine coverage and mortality rates related to gastroenteritis in children <1 year and 1-4 years of age, using population estimates from the census as the denominator. Relative reductions in mortality rates were calculated for 2007 and 2008, using the 2004-2005 mean as baseline before vaccine introduction. RESULTS: Coverage of two doses of human rotavirus vaccine was 39% in 2006, increasing to 72% in 2007 and 77% in 2008. During 2004-2005, the gastroenteritis mortality rate in children <1 year of age was 56.9 per 100 000, decreasing by 30% (95% confidence interval (CI) 19-41) in 2007 and by 39% (95% CI 29-49) in 2008. In children 1-4 years of age, the mortality rate was 4.5 per 100 000 during 2004-2005, decreasing by 29% (95% CI 10-49) in 2007 and by 33% (95% CI 15-52) in 2008. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased rates of childhood gastroenteritis-related deaths in Brazil following rotavirus vaccine introduction, particularly among children <1 year of age, suggest the potential benefit of vaccination.
OBJECTIVES: Rotavirus vaccination was introduced in Brazil in March 2006, targeting an annual birth cohort of approximately 3.5 million. We analyzed trends in all-cause gastroenteritis-related deaths in children <5 years of age during the pre- and post-vaccination periods. METHODS: Data from the National Immunization Program and the Mortality Information System were used to calculate vaccine coverage and mortality rates related to gastroenteritis in children <1 year and 1-4 years of age, using population estimates from the census as the denominator. Relative reductions in mortality rates were calculated for 2007 and 2008, using the 2004-2005 mean as baseline before vaccine introduction. RESULTS: Coverage of two doses of human rotavirus vaccine was 39% in 2006, increasing to 72% in 2007 and 77% in 2008. During 2004-2005, the gastroenteritis mortality rate in children <1 year of age was 56.9 per 100 000, decreasing by 30% (95% confidence interval (CI) 19-41) in 2007 and by 39% (95% CI 29-49) in 2008. In children 1-4 years of age, the mortality rate was 4.5 per 100 000 during 2004-2005, decreasing by 29% (95% CI 10-49) in 2007 and by 33% (95% CI 15-52) in 2008. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased rates of childhood gastroenteritis-related deaths in Brazil following rotavirus vaccine introduction, particularly among children <1 year of age, suggest the potential benefit of vaccination.
Authors: Catherine Yen; Jacqueline E Tate; Terri B Hyde; Margaret M Cortese; Benjamin A Lopman; Baoming Jiang; Roger I Glass; Umesh D Parashar Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2014-04-22 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Ana Lúcia Escobar; Carlos E A Coimbra; James R Welch; Bernardo L Horta; Ricardo Ventura Santos; Andrey M Cardoso Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-02-27 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Manish M Patel; Andrew D Clark; Colin F B Sanderson; Jacqueline Tate; Umesh D Parashar Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2012-10-23 Impact factor: 11.069