Impact of rotavirus vaccination in Malawi from 2012 to 2022 compared to model predictions.

ABSTRACT: Rotarix® vaccine was introduced into the Malawi national immunization program in October 2012. We analyzed data on children <5 years old hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis from January 2012 to June 2022, and compared to pre-vaccination data from 1997 to 2009. We estimated vaccine coverage before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic using data from rotavirus-negative children. We compared the observed weekly number of rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis (RVGE) cases by age to predictions from a previously developed mathematical model to estimate overall vaccine effectiveness. The number of RVGE and rotavirus-negative acute gastroenteritis cases declined substantially following vaccine introduction. Vaccine coverage among rotavirus-negative controls was >90% with two doses by July

SUBMITTER: Pitzer VE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11576906 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature