title: Methodology and lessons-learned from the efficacy clinical trial of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine in Bangladesh.
abstract: An efficacy clinical trial with pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (PRV), RotaTeq(®), was conducted at Matlab field site of ICDDR,B, Bangladesh from March 2007 to March 2009. The methodology, including operation logistics, and lessons-learned are described in this report. Vaccination was organized at 41 fixed-site clinics twice/month. A total of 1136 infants were randomized 1:1 to receive 3 doses of PRV/placebo at approximately 6-, 10-, and 14-weeks of age with routine vaccines of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) schedule. Twelve field-workers routinely visited study participants for safety and efficacy follow-up. The study was conducted following good clinical practices and maintaining cold-chain requirements. There were no temperature deviations of clinical vaccine supplies. Data entry was done using the source documents to a central database developed by the sponsor which was linked to web. Among enrolled infants, 1128 (99.3%) received 3 doses of PRV/placebo and efficacy follow-up was conducted for a median of 554 days. For the evaluation of immunogenicity, blood samples were collected from 150 participants predose 1 and from 147 (98%) of the same participants post dose 3. Stool samples were collected from 778 (99.9%) acute gastroenteritis episodes among children who reported to diarrhoea treatment centres. Thirty-nine serious adverse events, including 6 deaths, occurred among study participants. The efficacy of PRV against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis was 42.7% through the entire follow-up period; serum anti-rotavirus IgA response was 78.1%. Inclement weather, difficult transportation, and movement of study participants were some of the challenges identified. This is the first vaccine trial in rural Bangladesh with online data entry. The study was well accepted in the community and was completed successfully.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh. kzaman@icddrb.org
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunus
authors.forename: Shams
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Arifeen
authors.forename: Tasnim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azim
authors.forename: A S G
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Faruque
authors.forename: Ehsanul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huq
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Luby
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dallas
authors.forename: Kristen D C
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Rivers
authors.forename: A Duncan
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Neuzil
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciarlet
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sack
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012034:Refrigeration / Q000379:methods; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000600:supply & distribution
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D010919:Placebos; C492535:RotaTeq; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated