Acute Gastroenteritis in Children Below 5 Years of Age at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India Post Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine into National Immunization Programme

Background: In Morocco, acute gastroenteritis in children is a public health issue. Since 1987, several strategies have been conducted to reduce its burden by the Moroccan Ministry of Health, including the introduction of the anti-rotavirus vaccine into the national immunization programme in 2010. Aims: To evaluate the impact of the anti-rotavirus vaccine in outpatients and inpatients with acute gastroenteritis under 5 years old. Methods: We conducted descriptive studies and a retrospective cohort study using data from the hospital’s sentinel surveillance system and the national ambulatory surveillance registry for acute gastroenteritis from 2006 to 2014. This include the period before and after the implementation of the rotavirus (RV) vaccine on children under age 5 years. Results: The decrease in acute gastroenteritis cases was about 5.2%, mainly among children aged 0–11 months. The proportion of acute RV gastroenteritis (RVGE) decreased from 37.0% to 31.1% after the vaccine’s introduction; it was statistically significant among the children aged 0–11 months (38.8% to 28.1%; P = 0.009). The proportion of RVGE among inpatients decreased from 97.0% to 91.7% (P = 0.022). Diarrheal disease cases without dehydration increased from 7.8% to 11.1% (P < 0.001); RVGE was 2.3 times more frequent among unvaccinated children. The vaccine effectiveness was estimated at 57%. The proportion of G1P[8] genotype infections decreased after the introduction of the RV vaccine (56% to 40%; P < 0.001), while the G2P[4] genotype became more frequent (13% to 21%; P = 0.015). Conclusions: The introduction of the RV vaccination into the national immunization programme in Morocco has allowed significant reduction in the incidence and severity of RVGE among children under 5 years old

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Lower Coverage Rates of Full Rotavirus Vaccine Series in Libyan Children: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study, 2016

Iranian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.18502/ijph.v49i3.3145 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Salem ALKOSHI ◽

Eyal LESHEM

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Rotavirus Vaccine ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Third ◽

Immunization Programme ◽

Rotavirus Vaccines ◽

National Immunization ◽

National Immunization Programme ◽

Coverage Rates

Background: There are little data on the current condition of national immunization programme (NIP) in Libya. In 2013, pentavalent rotavirus vaccines were added to the NIP. Incomplete rotavirus vaccine series may result in lower vaccine effectiveness. The study aimed to assess timeliness and coverage rates of routine NIP vaccinations including the newly introduced rotavirus vaccine in Libya. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of children aged 0 to 18 months was carried out in vaccination centers of two north-western cities. Data were collected during Nov-Dec 2016 from vaccination cards of children. Child age and doses received in previous visits were documented. Results: Overall, we included 1023 children assessed in 29 visits at six vaccination centers. In children aged 18 months, coverage rates for all doses of BCG, OPV, HepB, pneumococcal, Meningococcal and MMR vaccines exceeded 95%. Coverage rates for second and third doses of rotavirus vaccines were 89% and 68%, respectively. Most (75%) children who missed the third dose of rotavirus vaccine were aged >8 months when at the time of appointment for the third dose. Conclusion: Overall, the coverage rate for routine vaccination in children assessed at immunization centers in northwest Libya was high. Lower coverage of full pentavalent rotavirus vaccine series may have been the result of exceeding the age restriction. Measures to improve timeliness of vaccination appointments should be assessed. Lifting the age restriction on rotavirus vaccines should be considered for at-risk population.

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