Rotavirus vaccine effective against gastroenteritis in children: study, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• A recent study found that the indigenous Rotavirus vaccine in India significantly reduced rotavirus-based gastroenteritis cases across the country.
• The study, published in The Nature Medicine, analyzed data from 31 hospitals in 9 States between 2016 and 2020.
• The Rotavac vaccine, introduced in India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 2016, showed an effectiveness of 54%.
• The study confirmed that the vaccine's effectiveness is sustained during the first two years of life.

Detailed Insights:

• The study compared rotavirus case proportions and trends before and after the introduction of Rotavac in the UIP.
• Rotavac is an indigenous oral rotavirus vaccine administered at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age as part of the UIP, providing it free to eligible beneficiaries.
• The observed effectiveness of 54% in routine programmatic conditions aligns with the 54% efficacy reported during the phase 3 vaccine trial.
• The proportion of paediatric rotavirus hospitalizations also declined substantially after the introduction of the vaccine.
• Rotavac's development involved a public-private partnership including the Department of Biotechnology, Bharat Biotech, and international organizations.
• Gagandeep Kang, a key figure in Rotavac's development, emphasized the study's importance in confirming the vaccine's real-world effectiveness.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Rotavirus: A common virus that causes gastroenteritis, especially in infants and young children.
• Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from viral or bacterial infection, causing vomiting and diarrhea.
• Vaccine Efficacy: The percentage reduction of disease in a vaccinated group in a clinical trial setting.