Authors' response.

We thank M.D. Al-Mendalawi for the interest shown in our article. There are reports of high disease and economic burden due to rotavirus gastroenteritis and circulating strains of rotavirus, which emphasize the need of rotavirus vaccine. According to the recommendations of National Technical Advisory Group of India, the Government of India is planning to include four new vaccines in the Universal Immunization Programme including rotavirus vaccine1. However; the programme is still in the preparatory phase2.

It is understood that in those countries where rotavirus vaccine is routinely used the prevalence of rotavirus gastroenteritis has decreased and norovirus has emerged as a most prevalent viral cause of acute gastroenteritis. Prevalence higher than our study has been reported from a study from south India3. Geographic and seasonal variations in prevalence of norovirus are known to occur4. The comments are valid and definitely need attention of policy makers.