title: Public health impact of accelerated immunization against rotavirus infection among children aged less than 6 months in the United States.
abstract: We developed a cohort model to evaluate the expected public health impact of accelerated regimens for immunization against rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE). Alternative strategies for vaccination with the pentavalent human-bovine reassortant vaccine, Rotateq(®) (RV5, Merck) and the oral live attenuated human rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix(®) (RV1, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines) were considered, including acceleration of the 1st dose only (by 2 weeks) as well as acceleration of the 1st (by 2 weeks) and subsequent doses (by up to 10 weeks). Assuming vaccine coverage levels consistent with current US clinical practice, accelerated regimens would be expected to reduce annual numbers of RVGE-related hospitalizations by 300-400, emergency department visits by 3000-4000, and outpatient visits by 3000-4000 (i.e., by 9-14%) among US children aged <6 months. Accordingly, accelerating the immunization of children against RVGE may yield substantive reductions in the number of RV-related encounters in US clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: a Policy Analysis Inc. (PAI); Four Davis Court; Brookline, MA USA.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weycker
authors.forename: Mark Andrew
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Atwood
authors.forename: Baudouin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Standaert
authors.forename: Girishanthy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krishnarajah
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C492457:RIX4414 vaccine; C492535:RotaTeq; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
keywords: communicable diseases; emergency department, gastroenteritis, hospitalization, outpatient, rotavirus, rotavirus vaccine