Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in preventing severe acute gastroenteritis in children.

QUESTION: As rotavirus vaccines enter the scheduled immunization programs in Canada, more and more of the children younger than 1 year of age in my practice are receiving rotavirus vaccines. Is there evidence that rotavirus vaccines are effective in preventing acute gastroenteritis complications such as dehydration and hospitalization? ANSWER: To reduce the burden of illness of rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis, 2 orally administered rotavirus vaccines were licensed in recent years. Large studies documented the safety profiles of these vaccines and several provinces introduced a vaccine as part of their immunization program. Recent data from developed and developing countries suggest that the rotavirus vaccine is substantially reducing morbidity and mortality among children. Initial clinical trials are now being supported by effectiveness data from field studies, showing a 70% to 100% reduction in emergency department visits and hospitalizations of children with rotavirus acute gastroenteritis.