title: Impact of rotavirus vaccination on childhood gastroenteritis-related mortality and hospital discharges in Panama.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rotavirus vaccination was introduced in Panama in March 2006. This study was carried out in order to describe the trends in gastroenteritis-related (GER) hospitalizations and mortality in children <5 years of age during the pre- and post-vaccination periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Expanded Program on Immunization (Ministry of Health) were used to calculate vaccine coverage. GER mortality and hospitalizations were obtained through database review of the Contraloría General de la República and hospital discharge databases of five sentinel hospitals, for the period 2000-2008. Mean rates of GER mortality and mean numbers of hospitalizations during the baseline pre-vaccination period (2000-2005) were compared to those of 2007 and 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  National coverage for the second rotavirus vaccine dose increased from 30% in 2006 to 62% in 2007 and 71% in 2008, varying from 62% in the West region to 77% in the Panama region. Overall, at 2-years post-vaccine introduction, the GER mortality rate in Panama had decreased by 50% (95% confidence interval (CI) 46-54). During 2000-2005, the GER mortality rate in children (<1 year) was 73/100 000, decreasing by 45% (95% CI 40-51) in 2008. In children aged 1-4 years, the GER mortality rate was 20.3/100 000 (2000-2005), decreasing by 54% (95% CI 48-60) in 2008. The Panama region registered the highest mortality rate reduction (69%; 95% CI 58-81) for 2008. During 2008, GER hospitalizations among children <5 years of age decreased by 30% (95% CI 21-37) from the mean number of hospitalizations during 2000-2005.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial reduction in GER mortality and hospitalizations was observed following the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in Panama.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena Calle 35, APDO 0816-02593, Panama City, Panama. vicentebayard@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bayard
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeAntonio
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tinajero
authors.forename: Maria Mercedes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Castrejon
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega-Barría
authors.forename: Romulo E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Colindres
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines