Dahl RM, et al. - Researchers examined the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccines in low and very low birth weight infants (LBW and VLBW) weighing <2500 and <1500 g at birth, respectively, a high-risk population for severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. They found that rotavirus vaccines had substantially decreased acute gastroenteritis (AGE) hospitalizations and were exceedingly successful in LBW and VLBW infants, similar to normal birth weight (NBW) infants. They suggested that especially in LBW and VLBW infants, endeavours to improve vaccination coverage should be continued.

Methods

• From July 2001 to June 2015, inpatient commercial claims data for US children <5 years of age was analyzed.
• Researchers identified claims for AGE and rotavirus-coded hospitalizations and LBW, VLBW and NBW infants.
• Using Current Procedural Terminology, receipt of rotavirus vaccine was defined.
• They calculated rate reductions using prevaccine (2001–2006) and postvaccine (2007–2015) annual AGE and rotavirus hospitalization rates.

Results

• The study results showed that rotavirus vaccine coverage was 87%, 82% and 64%, for NBW, LBW and VLBW infants, respectively as of December 2014.
• It was observed that among NBW, LBW and VLBW children <5 years of age, AGE hospitalization rate reductions relative to the prevaccine introduction period were 60% [95% confidence interval (CI): 58%–61%], 64% (95% CI: 57%–70%) and 55% (95% CI: 39%–67%), respectively for 2014–2015.
• They found that rotavirus hospitalization rate reductions were 91% (95% CI: 90%–92%), 98% (95% CI: 93%–100%) and 93% (95% CI: 70%–98%).
• According to the findings obtained, rotavirus vaccines resulted in a 62% (95% CI: 51%–71%), 72% (95% CI: 44%–86%) and 71% (95% CI: 7%–91%) reduction in AGE hospitalization rates comparing vaccinated vs unvaccinated NBW, LBW and VLBW children 3–23 months of age, respectively.