title: Estimating rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in Japan using a screening method.
abstract: Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a highly contagious, acute viral disease that imposes a significant health burden worldwide. In Japan, rotavirus vaccines have been commercially available since 2011 for voluntary vaccination, but vaccine coverage and effectiveness have not been evaluated. In the absence of a vaccination registry in Japan, vaccination coverage in the general population was estimated according to the number of vaccines supplied by the manufacturer, the number of children who received financial support for vaccination, and the size of the target population. Patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis were identified by reviewing the medical records of all children who consulted 6 major hospitals in Saga Prefecture with gastroenteritis symptoms. Vaccination status among these patients was investigated by reviewing their medical records or interviewing their guardians by telephone. Vaccine effectiveness was determined using a screening method. Vaccination coverage increased with time, and it was 2-times higher in municipalities where the vaccination fee was supported. In the 2012/13 season, vaccination coverage in Saga Prefecture was 14.9% whereas the proportion of patients vaccinated was 5.1% among those with clinically diagnosed rotavirus gastroenteritis and 1.9% among those hospitalized for rotavirus gastroenteritis. Thus, vaccine effectiveness was estimated as 69.5% and 88.8%, respectively. This is the first study to evaluate rotavirus vaccination coverage and effectiveness in Japan since vaccination began.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Preventive Medicine , Saga University , Saga , Japan.|b Department of Pediatrics , Saga University , Saga , Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Preventive Medicine , Saga University , Saga , Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: c Community Medical Support Institute, Saga University , Saga , Japan.
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakanishi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Preventive Medicine , Saga University , Saga , Japan.
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shimanoe
authors.affiliation: a Department of Preventive Medicine , Saga University , Saga , Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pediatrics , Saga University , Saga , Japan.
authors.forename: Muneaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Preventive Medicine , Saga University , Saga , Japan.
authors.forename: Keitaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
keywords: rotavirus; rotavirus gastroenteritis; rotavirus vaccine; screening method; vaccine effectiveness