Rotavirus Epidemiology and Monovalent Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness in Australia: 2010-2017

Rotavirus vaccine has been funded for infants under the Australian National Immunisation Program since 2007, with Rotarix vaccine used in New South Wales, Australia, from that time. In 2017, New South Wales experienced a large outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis. We examined epidemiology, genotypic profiles, and vaccine effectiveness (VE) among cases.

Laboratory-confirmed cases of rotavirus notified in New South Wales between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017 were analyzed. VE was estimated in children via a case-control analysis. Specimens from a sample of hospitalized case patients were genotyped and analyzed.

In 2017, 2319 rotavirus cases were reported, representing a 3.1-fold increase on the 2016 notification rate. The highest rate was among children aged <2 years. For notified cases in 2017, 2-dose VE estimates were 88.4%, 83.7%, and 78.7% in those aged 6 to 11 months, 1 to 3 years, and 4 to 9 years, respectively. VE was significantly reduced from 89.5% within 1 year of vaccination to 77.0% at 5 to 10 years postvaccination. Equinelike G3P[8] (48%) and G8P[8] (23%) were identified as the most common genotypes in case patients aged ≥6 months.

Rotarix is highly effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed rotavirus in Australia, especially in infants aged 6 to 11 months. Reduced VE in older age groups and over time suggests waning protection, possibly related to the absence of subclinical immune boosting from continuously circulating virus. G8 genotypes have not been common in Australia, and their emergence, along with equinelike G3P[8], may be related to vaccine-induced selective pressure; however, further strain-specific VE studies are needed.