Global rotavirus vaccine introductions and coverage: 2006 - 2016

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Vaccinology
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Rotavirus infections caused an estimated 215,000 child deaths in 2013, primarily in low-income nations.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended rotavirus vaccines (RV) in national immunization programs since 2009.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review rotavirus vaccine introduction and coverage trends globally from 2006-2016.
• To analyze factors influencing vaccine adoption, including region, country income, and Gavi eligibility.

Main Methods:

• Data compilation from WHO on vaccine coverage, schedules, and introductions (2016).
• Utilized World Bank GNI and UN population data (2016).
• Analyzed estimated rotavirus deaths (2013).

Main Results:

• As of December 2016, 57% of countries had not introduced universal rotavirus vaccine.
• African region countries showed the highest introduction rates (37%), largely Gavi-supported.
• Low-income, Gavi-eligible countries accounted for 48% of global introductions; high-income countries had lower coverage.

Conclusions:

• Significant progress in rotavirus vaccine integration, but widespread adoption remains incomplete.
• Gavi support has been crucial for vaccine introduction in high-burden regions.
• Disparities in vaccine introduction persist, particularly in Southeast Asia and non-Gavi-eligible countries.