OBJECTIVES: A two-dose oral monovalent rotavirus vaccine (RV1) was introduced into the Kenyan National Immunization Program in July 2014. We assessed trends in hospitalisation for rotavirus-specific acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and strain distribution among children <5 years in a rural, resource-limited setting in Kenya before and after the nationwide implementation of the vaccine. METHODS: Data on rotavirus AGE and strain distribution were derived from a 5-year hospital-based surveillance. We compared rotavirus-related hospitalisations and strain distribution in the 2-year post-vaccine period with the 3-year pre-vaccine baseline. Vaccine administrative data from the Unit of Vaccines and Immunization Services (UVIS) for Mbita sub-county were used to estimate rotavirus immunisation coverage in the study area. RESULTS: We observed a 48% (95% CI: 27-64%) overall decline in rotavirus-related hospitalisations among children aged <5 years in the post-vaccine period. Coverage with the last dose of rotavirus vaccine increased from 51% in year 1% to 72% in year 2 of the vaccine implementation. Concurrently, reductions in rotavirus hospitalisations increased from 40% in the first year to 53% in the second year of vaccine use. The reductions were most pronounced among the vaccine-eligible group, with the proportion of cases in this age group dropping to 14% in post-vaccine years from a high of 51% in the pre-vaccine period. A diversity of rotavirus strains circulated before the introduction of the vaccine with G1P[8] being the most dominant strain. G2P[4] replaced G1P[8] as the dominant strain after the vaccine was introduced. CONCLUSIONS: Rotavirus vaccination has resulted in a notable decline in hospital admissions for rotavirus infections in a rural resource-limited population in Kenya. This provides early evidence for continued use of rotavirus vaccines in routine childhood immunisations in Kenya. Our data also underscore the need for expanding coverage on second dose so as to maximise the impact of the vaccine.
OBJECTIVES: A two-dose oral monovalent rotavirus vaccine (RV1) was introduced into the Kenyan National Immunization Program in July 2014. We assessed trends in hospitalisation for rotavirus-specific acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and strain distribution among children <5 years in a rural, resource-limited setting in Kenya before and after the nationwide implementation of the vaccine. METHODS: Data on rotavirus AGE and strain distribution were derived from a 5-year hospital-based surveillance. We compared rotavirus-related hospitalisations and strain distribution in the 2-year post-vaccine period with the 3-year pre-vaccine baseline. Vaccine administrative data from the Unit of Vaccines and Immunization Services (UVIS) for Mbita sub-county were used to estimate rotavirus immunisation coverage in the study area. RESULTS: We observed a 48% (95% CI: 27-64%) overall decline in rotavirus-related hospitalisations among children aged <5 years in the post-vaccine period. Coverage with the last dose of rotavirus vaccine increased from 51% in year 1% to 72% in year 2 of the vaccine implementation. Concurrently, reductions in rotavirus hospitalisations increased from 40% in the first year to 53% in the second year of vaccine use. The reductions were most pronounced among the vaccine-eligible group, with the proportion of cases in this age group dropping to 14% in post-vaccine years from a high of 51% in the pre-vaccine period. A diversity of rotavirus strains circulated before the introduction of the vaccine with G1P[8] being the most dominant strain. G2P[4] replaced G1P[8] as the dominant strain after the vaccine was introduced. CONCLUSIONS: Rotavirus vaccination has resulted in a notable decline in hospital admissions for rotavirus infections in a rural resource-limited population in Kenya. This provides early evidence for continued use of rotavirus vaccines in routine childhood immunisations in Kenya. Our data also underscore the need for expanding coverage on second dose so as to maximise the impact of the vaccine.
Authors: Betty E Owor; Mike J Mwanga; Regina Njeru; Robert Mugo; Mwanajuma Ngama; Grieven P Otieno; D J Nokes; C N Agoti Journal: Wellcome Open Res Date: 2019-05-15
Authors: Sammy Khagayi; Richard Omore; Grieven P Otieno; Billy Ogwel; John B Ochieng; Jane Juma; Evans Apondi; Godfrey Bigogo; Clayton Onyango; Mwanajuma Ngama; Regina Njeru; Betty E Owor; Mike J Mwanga; Yaw Addo; Collins Tabu; Anyangu Amwayi; Jason M Mwenda; Jacqueline E Tate; Umesh D Parashar; Robert F Breiman; D James Nokes; Jennifer R Verani Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2020-05-23 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Mike J Mwanga; Betty E Owor; John B Ochieng; Mwanajuma H Ngama; Billy Ogwel; Clayton Onyango; Jane Juma; Regina Njeru; Elijah Gicheru; Grieven P Otieno; Sammy Khagayi; Charles N Agoti; Godfrey M Bigogo; Richard Omore; O Yaw Addo; Seheri Mapaseka; Jacqueline E Tate; Umesh D Parashar; Elizabeth Hunsperger; Jennifer R Verani; Robert F Breiman; D James Nokes Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2020-07-13 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Ernest Apondi Wandera; Betty Muriithi; Cyrus Kathiiko; Felix Mutunga; Mary Wachira; Maurine Mumo; Anne Mwangi; Joseph Tinkoi; Mirasine Meiguran; Pius Akumu; Valeria Ndege; Fredrick Kasiku; James Ang'awa; Ryoichiro Mochizuki; Satoshi Kaneko; Kouichi Morita; Collins Ouma; Yoshio Ichinose Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2022-06-30 Impact factor: 3.918