title: Sustained low rotavirus activity and hospitalisation rates in the post-vaccination era in Belgium, 2007 to 2014.
abstract: In 2006, Belgium was the first country in the European Union to recommend rotavirus vaccination in the routine infant vaccination schedule and rapidly achieved high vaccine uptake (86-89% in 2007). We used regional and national data sources up to 7 years post-vaccination to study the impact of vaccination on laboratory-confirmed rotavirus cases and rotavirus-related hospitalisations and deaths. We showed that (i) from 2007 until 2013, vaccination coverage remained at 79-88% for a complete course, (ii) in children 0-2 years, rotavirus cases decreased by 79% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 68--89%) in 2008-2014 compared to the pre-vaccination period (1999--2006) and by 50% (95% CI: 14-82%) in the age group ≥ 10 years, (iii) hospitalisations for rotavirus gastroenteritis decreased by 87% (95% CI: 84-90%) in 2008--2012 compared to the pre-vaccination period (2002--2006), (iv) median age of rotavirus cases increased from 12 months to 17 months and (v) the rotavirus seasonal peak was reduced and delayed in all post-vaccination years. The substantial decline in rotavirus gastroenteritis requiring hospitalisations and in rotavirus activity following introduction of rotavirus vaccination is sustained over time and more pronounced in the target age group, but with evidence of herd immunity.
authors.affiliation: Service of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Department of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbe
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blommaert
authors.forename: Benson
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ogunjimi
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grammens
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Callens
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Herck
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beutels
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bilcke
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines
keywords: epidemiology; gastrointestinal disease; impact; rotavirus; vaccination coverage; vaccine-preventable diseases