title: Current status of rotavirus vaccines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rotaviruses remain the major cause of childhood diarrheal disease worldwide and of diarrheal deaths of infants and children in developing countries. The huge burden of childhood rotavirus-related diarrhea in the world continues to drive the remarkable pace of vaccine development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research articles were searched using terms "rotavirus" and "rotavirus vaccine" in MEDLINE and PubMed. Articles not published in the English language, articles without abstracts, and opinion articles were excluded from the review. After preliminary screening, all articles were reviewed and synthesized to provide an overview of current vaccines and vaccination programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this review of the global rotavirus vaccines and vaccination programs, the principles of rotavirus vaccine development and the efficacy of the currently licensed vaccines from both developed and developing countries were summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea in children in both developed and developing countries. Rotavirus vaccination is a cost-effective measure to prevent rotavirus diarrhea.
authors.affiliation: , Tainan, China.|Internal Medicine Chest Division, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, China.
authors.forename: Ching-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: , Tainan, China.|Department of Family Medicine, Da-Chien General Hospital, Miaoli, China.|General Education Center, Ta Tung University, Taipei, China.
authors.forename: Shou-Chien
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: , Tainan, China. kowton@ms81.hinet.net.|Department of Occupational Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan, China. kowton@ms81.hinet.net.|Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, China. kowton@ms81.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Kow-Tong
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
keywords: cost-effectiveness; efficacy; rotavirus; vaccine