Acute gastroenteritis hospitalizations among children aged < 5 years before and after introduction of rotavirus vaccines

Abstract

Rotavirus vaccines were licensed in Spain between late 2006 and early 2007. Rotavirus vaccination was recommended but not reimbursed by the Spanish National Health System. Significant coverage rates have been reached in Galicia, with an average of 47% since the period July 2007-June 2008. We aim to explore eventual variations in the incidence of hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) among children < 5 y of age before and after vaccine introduction. The annual and monthly hospitalization rates for rotavirus-related AGE and all cause AGE, before and after rotavirus vaccine introduction, were calculated by using the official surveillance system for hospital data. The annual hospitalization rates for rotavirus-related AGE in children < 5 y of age decreased by 14.8% for the period July 2008 to June 2009 and by 44.5% for the period July 2009 to June 2010 as compared with the median rate of the pre-vaccination period (July 2003 to June 2007). The corresponding decreases for all cause AGE were 29.9% and 49.0%, respectively. In children < 12 mo of age a more marked decrease was observed. Compared with pre-vaccination years, a decrease in rotavirus-related and all cause AGE hospitalization rates was observed, with a greater decline in the July 2009 to June 2010 period.

Decline in rotavirus hospitalizations following the first three years of vaccination in Castile-La Mancha, Spain

“…[24][25][26][27] The trend described in CLM resembles that noted for Spain as a whole. [10][11][12][13] 29,30 This means a 73% annual reduction of direct costs of RH. In European regions of low to moderate commercialization of the new vaccine, the reduction of IR under 2 y of age was 25-36% when comparing the periods 2008-11 and 2004-06, 31 similar to the decrease in Spain.…”

“…Despite these drugs are not subsidized by the government, recent studies have estimated a significant decrease in rotavirus hospitalizations in Spain since their use became more widespread in 2008. [10][11][12][13] Other industrialized countries have already shown a reduction in hospital admissions after 1 to 2 y of a complete immunization schedule, [14][15][16] with the vaccine remaining effective up to 3 y after the last dose. 17,18 The aim of our research is to describe the burden borne by hospitals due to community-acquired rotavirus in CLM and its …”

Impact of Rotavirus Vaccination on Childhood Hospitalization for Seizures

“…7 Rotavirus vaccines were licensed in Spain between late 2006 and early 2007, reaching moderate coverage in the Galicia region (North West Spain) despite not being reimbursed. 8 This moderate coverage-ranging from 29% to 41%-showed a high effectiveness and significant impact on acute gastroenteritis admissions in children in this region. [8][9][10] We have hypothesized that rotavirus vaccination might have also impacted the incidence of hospitalizations for CS among children <5 years of age in the Spanish region of Galicia.…”

A reverse evidence of rotavirus vaccines impact

“…6 However, some areas have shown significant coverage rates, and RV introduction has nearly halved the rotavirus-related hospitalization rate. 7 From March 29th and June 10th of 2010, the Spanish Medicine and Health Products Agency (AEMPS) did not authorize the release of new batches of Rotarix ® and RotaTeq ® vaccines, respectively, onto the Spanish market due to problems with the good manufacturing practice (GMP). On November 4th, 2010, AEMPS allowed again the release of batches selected.…”

“…The strengths and weakness of the national administrative database for hospital admissions used as data source in our study have been previously discussed. 7 In addition, although estimation of vaccination coverage using sales is a usual practice, the percentage obtained may be overestimated, as the distributed doses may not necessarily reflect the actual number of doses that have been administered. In any case, these limitations have been present through the study period.…”