title: Herd immunity after two years of the universal mass vaccination program against rotavirus gastroenteritis in Austria.
abstract: Austria was the first country in Europe implementing a universal mass vaccination program against rotavirus gastroenteritis (RV-GE) for all infants nationwide. Epidemiological data from a hospital based surveillance system show that incidence rates of children hospitalized with RV-GE decreased in 2009 compared to 2008 and compared to the prevaccination period 2001-2005. Decreasing hospitalization-rates from RV-GE were observed in children of all age groups, even in those not eligible for vaccination according to their age, suggesting herd immunity induced by universal mass vaccination against RV-GE. In 2009 the disease burden was highest in children below three months of age stressing the importance of the early start of the immunization course.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paulke-Korinek
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundi
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rendi-Wagner
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Martin
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidle-Loss
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecsei
authors.forename: Herwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kollaritsch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D032521:Immunity, Herd; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines