Projecting the effectiveness of RotaTeq® against rotavirus-related hospitalizations and deaths in six Asian countries.

RotaTeq is an oral pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) that has shown high and consistent efficacy in preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis (RGE) in randomized clinical trials conducted mostly in industrialized countries. We projected the effectiveness of RV5 against RGE-related hospitalizations and deaths in 6 Asian countries by using a simple mathematical model. Model inputs included rotavirus surveillance data collected 2006-2007 in China, 2001-2002 in Hong Kong, 2005-2007 in India, 2005-2007 in South Korea, 2005-2007 in Taiwan, and 2001-2003 in Thailand; the numbers of rotavirus-related deaths in each country; and published rotavirus serotype-specific efficacy of RV5. The model projected an overall effectiveness in the region of 82% to 89% against RGE-related hospitalizations and a substantial reduction in RGE-related deaths, suggesting that RV5 could substantially reduce the burden of rotavirus disease in Asia.