Impact and effectiveness of RotaTeq® vaccine based on 3 years of surveillance following introduction of a rotavirus immunization program in Finland.
BACKGROUND
Finland introduced universal rotavirus (RV) vaccination in September 2009, with exclusive use of the pentavalent human-bovine reassortant RV vaccine RotaTeq® and following a vaccination schedule at 2, 3 and 5 months of age. This study monitored the impact of RV vaccination on hospitalizations due to RV acute gastroenteritis (RVGE). The results following the first 3 RV seasons after implementation of universal RV vaccination are presented.


METHODS
Prospective hospital-based surveillance identified children with acute gastroenteritis admitted to 2 University Hospitals (Tampere and Oulu, Finland), from December 2009 to August 2012. The surveillance covered a population of approximately 173,000 children from the 2 hospitals' catchment areas. Stool samples were taken and analyzed centrally for RV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with genotyping by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. International Classification of Diseases discharge codes were collected retrospectively pre- and postvaccination.


RESULTS
During the 3-year prospective surveillance, 127 RVGE episodes were identified. Of these, 117 were in unvaccinated children and 6 were in fully vaccinated children (RotaTeq, n = 3; Rotarix, n = 3). The vaccine effectiveness against hospitalized RVGE for fully vaccinated children was 92.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 50.0-98.7] among children eligible for the National Immunization Program. When analyzing retrospectively the Tampere and Oulu hospital databases for all children aged <16 years, hospitalizations for RVGE had decreased by 78% in the postvaccination period (2009-2012) compared with the prevaccination data (2001-2006).


CONCLUSIONS
Severe RVGE requiring hospitalization was virtually eliminated in vaccine-eligible children in the 3 years following implementation of universal RotaTeq vaccination in Finland.
From the *Vaccine Research Centre, University of Tampere Medical School, Tampere; †Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; and ‡Epidemiology Department, Sanofi Pasteur MSD, Lyon, France.
Timo
T
Vesikari
Matti
M
Uhari
Marjo
M
Renko
Maria
M
Hemming
Marjo
M
Salminen
Laurence
L
Torcel-Pagnon
Hélène
H
Bricout
François
F
Simondon
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
C492535:RotaTeq; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated