Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
10:49

Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus

Published on: January 28, 2019

Sustained low hospitalization rates after four years of rotavirus mass vaccination in Austria

Maria Paulke-Korinek1, Herwig Kollaritsch, Stephan W Aberle

  • 1Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Austria.

Vaccine
|April 20, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus mass vaccination in Austria significantly reduced hospitalizations by up to 70% in children under 15. The vaccine demonstrated high effectiveness and a favorable safety profile, with no severe adverse events reported.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology
  • Public Health Surveillance

Background:

  • Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in infants and young children globally.
  • The implementation of rotavirus vaccination programs aims to reduce the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis.
  • Austria initiated a universal rotavirus mass vaccination program in August 2007.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of the rotavirus mass vaccination program on hospitalization rates in children.
  • To assess the vaccine's effectiveness and safety profile in a real-world setting.
  • To identify trends in rotavirus strains, including those causing breakthrough infections.

Main Methods:

  • Hospital-based surveillance study design.
  • Analysis of rotavirus hospitalization data in children younger than 15 years.
  • Comparison of incidence rates between the pre-vaccination era (2001-2005) and post-vaccination years (2010-2011).
  • Field effectiveness estimation and genotyping for breakthrough infections.

Main Results:

  • Significant decrease in rotavirus hospitalizations by 70% (2010) and 64% (2011) in children <15 years compared to pre-vaccination rates.
  • Highest incidence rates observed in infants <90 days, emphasizing early vaccination.
  • Sustained protection observed up to three years post-vaccination in children aged 2-3.5 years.
  • Field vaccine effectiveness ranged from 79% to 96%.
  • An increase in G2P[4] prevalence was suspected in breakthrough infections.
  • Severe adverse events were rare (1.3-1.5 per 10(-5) doses), with no reported deaths, intussusception, or Kawasaki disease.

Conclusions:

  • The rotavirus mass vaccination program has been highly effective in reducing childhood rotavirus hospitalizations in Austria.
  • Early rotavirus immunization is crucial for maximum public health impact.
  • The vaccine exhibits sustained protection and a favorable safety profile.
  • Continued surveillance is important to monitor vaccine effectiveness and evolving rotavirus strains.

More Related Videos

An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Micro-neutralization Assay09:14

An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Micro-neutralization Assay

Published on: January 26, 2019

Simplified Reverse Genetics Method to Recover Recombinant Rotaviruses Expressing Reporter Proteins11:40

Simplified Reverse Genetics Method to Recover Recombinant Rotaviruses Expressing Reporter Proteins

Published on: April 17, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Vaccines01:21

Vaccines

Vaccines are among the most effective tools in preventive medicine, designed to prepare the immune system to recognize and combat infectious agents. By introducing antigens—substances that the immune system identifies as foreign—vaccines stimulate an adaptive immune response that leads to immunological memory. This immunological memory enables the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon future exposures to the actual pathogen.Vaccines can be categorized based on the type of...
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
Immunological Memory01:23

Immunological Memory

Immunological memory, a pivotal pillar of the adaptive immune system, is responsible for the body's ability to remember and respond more swiftly and effectively to previously encountered pathogens. This remarkable feature is what makes vaccines so effective in preventing diseases.
What is Immunological Memory?
Immunological memory is an integral function of the immune system that allows it to recognize and react more rapidly and effectively to pathogens previously encountered. This feature is...