[Recommendations for vaccination against ROTAvirus in PREMature newborns (ROTAPREM)]

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Rotavirus (RV) is a primary cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in infants globally.
• Most children contract RV by age five, particularly within the first two years of life.
• Preterm infants face a higher risk of severe RV infection compared to full-term infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of rotavirus vaccines in preterm infants.
• To compare RV vaccination outcomes in preterm versus full-term infants.
• To assess the risks of viral transmission associated with RV vaccination in hospitalized preterm infants.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from rotavirus vaccination studies in preterm infants.
• Comparison of vaccine effectiveness and safety profiles between preterm and full-term infants.
• Evaluation of horizontal viral transmission risks during hospital-based vaccination.

Main Results:

• Rotavirus vaccines demonstrate effectiveness and safety in preterm infants, comparable to full-term infants.
• A marginal risk of horizontal viral transmission was observed when vaccination occurred during hospitalization.
• Preterm infants often require hospitalization beyond 12 weeks of life, suggesting an opportune time for vaccination.

Conclusions:

• Rotavirus vaccination is recommended for preterm infants to prevent severe gastroenteritis.
• Hospitalization provides a suitable setting for administering RV vaccines to preterm infants according to immunization schedules.
• Vaccination during hospitalization is safe and effective, with minimal risk of viral spread.