Uptake of rotavirus vaccine and national trends of acute gastroenteritis among children in Nicaragua.
BACKGROUND
In October 2006, a new rotavirus vaccine was introduced in Nicaragua and was available free to all age-eligible children. We assessed vaccine uptake and trends in acute gastroenteritis (AGE) to assess vaccine impact.


METHODS
We analyzed national data from the period 2001-2007 on the total number of AGE episodes and on RotaTeq vaccine dose administration during 2006-2007.


RESULTS
After the introduction of RotaTeq, 1-dose vaccine coverage rates rapidly increased to 80% among age-eligible children. During the 2007 rotavirus season, when combined 2- and 3-dose vaccine coverage among children aged 0-11 months was approximately 26%, the total number of AGE episodes among children aged 0-11 months decreased by 23%, compared with a decrease of 6% among unvaccinated children aged 12-59 months. Furthermore, a 12% decrease in the number of all-cause hospitalizations for AGE was noted among children aged 0-11 months, whereas a approximately 5% increase was observed among children aged 12-59 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The high rate of vaccination among age-eligible children soon after vaccine introduction in Nicaragua indicates an efficient immunization program. However, in the age group at risk of rotavirus disease, vaccine coverage during the 2007 rotavirus season had yet to reach a level sufficient for making firm conclusions about vaccine impact. Epidemiologic studies to evaluate vaccine effectiveness and ongoing surveillance as vaccine uptake increases will allow a better assessment of vaccine impact.
Orozco
Maribel
M
Ministerio de Salud, Managua, Nicaragua.
Vasquez
Joshua
J
Pedreira
Cristina
C
De Oliveira
Lucia Helena
LH
Amador
Juan José
JJ
Malespin
Omar
O
Andrus
Jon
J
Tate
Jacqueline
J
Parashar
Umesh
U
Patel
Manish
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009527:Nicaragua / Q000453:epidemiology; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology
C492535:RotaTeq; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated