Introduction of rotavirus vaccination in a Swedish region: assessing parental decision‐making, obtained vaccination coverage and resulting hospital admissions

Abstract

Aim This study evaluated the introduction of rotavirus vaccination in Jönköping County, Sweden, starting in 2014. This project explored the parental factors that influenced the decision to vaccinate and studied the obtained vaccination coverage and its potential influence on hospital admissions due to acute gastroenteritis. Methods This was a descriptive, cross‐sectional study based on a study‐specific questionnaire (n = 356) and regional statistical data on vaccination coverage and hospital admissions in Jönköping County, Sweden. Results Central aspects when deciding on vaccination were vaccine efficacy and safety, that the vaccine was offered to all children, and recommended by healthcare professionals. One in five parents expressed uncertainty about whether they had sufficient information to make a decision. However, the rotavirus vaccination coverage was elevated from 76.1% to 81.0% and the hospital admissions due to acute gastroenteritis decreased by approximately 60%. Conclusion The results highlight the necessity for Child Health Services to have solid knowledge regarding vaccinations, to understand individual parental issues and to support uncertain parents. The high vaccination coverage achieved is an indication of the trust in healthcare professionals and is considered to be a major contributing factor to the substantial reduction of hospital admissions due to acute gastroenteritis.

Lessons Learned from Long-Term Assessment of Rotavirus Vaccination in a High-Income Country: The Case of the Rotavirus Vaccine Belgium Impact Study (RotaBIS)

“…Those vaccines were also introduced in 2006 in Austria [2] and Belgium [3]. Other countries followed year after year across the world [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Still a number of high-income countries in Europe, such as France, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, and Switzerland, have not yet implemented systematic RV vaccine reimbursement.…”

Vaccine Safety and Efficacy in Preventing Rotavirus Infection

“…Целесообразность массовой вакцинации в странах мира связана с оценкой бюджетных затрат на ее проведение в соответствии с предлагаемыми ВОЗ механизмами оценки 12 [13][14][15] [5]), ягненка LLR G10P [12] (Lanzhou lamb rotavirus vaccine). Эффективность вакцины против ротавирусного гастроэнтерита (на основе штамма RIT4237) колебалась от 0 до 64 %, а против тяжелых форм -от 0 до 84 %.…”

“…На основе штамма Wistar Calf 3 (WC3) и штамма ротавируса человека Wа-DS-1 была разработана вакцина RotaTeq ™ (Merck & Co. Inc, США), содержащая антигены пяти реассортантных штаммов ротавируса, геномы которых экспрессируют белки VP7 (G1-G4) и VP4 (P1A [8]) ротавируса человека и белки VP7(G6) и VP4 (P7 [5]) ротавируса теленка 15 [20].…”

“…Кроме того, концентрация EGF в слюне коррелирует с продолжительностью госпитализации при ротавирусном гастроэнтерите [42]. 15 Highlights of prescribing information. RotaTeq (Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral, Pentavalent).…”

The Effect of Rotavirus Vaccine on Socioeconomic Differentials of Paediatric Care Due to Gastroenteritis in Swedish Infants

“…In Stockholm, a rotavirus vaccine coverage of 85% was reached in 2016 and 90% in 2017 [10,11]. In Jönköping, a coverage of 81% was reached in 2017 [12].…”