Deployment of Rotavirus Vaccine in Western Kenya Coincides with a Reduction in All-Cause Child Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT: Rotavirus is an important cause of fatal pediatric diarrhea worldwide. Many national immunization programs began adding rotavirus vaccine following a 2009 World Health Organization recommendation. Kenya added rotavirus vaccine to their immunization program at the end of 2014. From a cohort of 38,463 children in the Kisumu health and demographic surveillance site in western Kenya, we assessed how the implementation of the rotavirus vaccine affected mortality in children under 3 years of age. Following its introduction in late 2014, the span of rotavirus vaccine coverage for children increased to 75% by 2017. Receiving the rotavirus vaccine was associated with a 44% reduction in all-cause child mortality (95% confidence interval = 28-68%, p < 0.0001), but not diarrhea-specific mortali

SUBMITTER: Sifuna P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10458991 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature