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Published on: January 28, 2019

Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination against childhood diarrhoea in El Salvador: case-control study

Orbelina de Palma1, Lilian Cruz, Hector Ramos

  • 1Ministerio de Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.

BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|June 17, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A monovalent rotavirus vaccine demonstrated high effectiveness (76%) against severe rotavirus diarrhea in young children in El Salvador. The vaccine also significantly reduced overall diarrhea hospital admissions in this low-middle income country.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Vaccinology
  • Public health epidemiology

Background:

  • Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in infants globally.
  • El Salvador, a low-middle income country, introduced a monovalent rotavirus vaccine nationally.
  • Assessing vaccine effectiveness is crucial for public health policy in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a monovalent rotavirus vaccine against severe rotavirus disease in children under 2 years old.
  • To assess the vaccine's impact on overall diarrhea hospitalizations following its national introduction in El Salvador.
  • To analyze vaccine effectiveness by age group and dose received.

Main Methods:

  • A matched case-control study was conducted involving 323 children with confirmed rotavirus diarrhea and 969 healthy controls.
  • Data were collected from seven hospitals in El Salvador between January 2007 and June 2009.
  • Vaccine effectiveness was calculated using adjusted odds ratios, with subgroup analyses by age and number of doses.

Main Results:

  • Two doses of the monovalent rotavirus vaccine showed 76% effectiveness against rotavirus diarrhea requiring hospital admission.
  • Effectiveness was higher in younger children (6-11 months: 83%) compared to older children (12+ months: 59%).
  • One dose demonstrated 51% effectiveness, and overall diarrhea admissions in children under 5 decreased by 40-51% post-vaccination.

Conclusions:

  • The monovalent rotavirus vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe rotavirus diarrhea and reducing hospital admissions in young children in El Salvador.
  • The substantial reduction in diarrhea admissions highlights the vaccine's significant public health impact in a low-middle income country.
  • Further investigation into the vaccine's impact on disease epidemiology, especially in older children, is warranted.
Abstract

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