title: Uptake and timeliness of rotavirus vaccination in Norway: The first year post-introduction.
abstract: To minimise vaccine-associated risk of intussusception following rotavirus vaccination, Norway adopted very strict age limits for initiating and completing the vaccine series at the time rotavirus vaccination was included in the national immunisation programme, October 2014. Although Norway has a high coverage for routine childhood vaccines, these stringent age limits could negatively affect rotavirus coverage. We documented the status and impact of rotavirus vaccination on other infant vaccines during the first year after its introduction.
  
  
  
  We used individual vaccination data from the national immunisation register to calculate coverage for rotavirus and other vaccines and examine adherence with the recommended schedules. We identified factors associated with completing the full rotavirus series by performing multiple logistic regression analyses. We also evaluated potential changes in uptake and timeliness of other routine vaccines after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine using the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  
  The national coverage for rotavirus vaccine achieved a year after the introduction was 89% for one dose and 82% for two doses, respectively. Among fully rotavirus-vaccinated children, 98% received both doses within the upper age limit and 90% received both doses according to the recommended schedule. The child's age at the initiation of rotavirus series and being vaccinated with diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV/Hib) and pneumococcal vaccines were the strongest predictors of completing the full rotavirus series. No major changes in uptake and timeliness of other paediatric vaccines were observed after introduction of rotavirus vaccine.
  
  
  
  Norway achieved a high national coverage and excellent adherence with the strict age limits for rotavirus vaccine administration during the first year of introduction, indicating robustness of the national immunisation programme. Rotavirus vaccination did not impact coverage or timeliness of other infant vaccines.
authors: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Infection Control and Environmental Health, PO Box 4404, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Beatriz.ValcarcelSalamanca@fhi.no.
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Valcarcel Salamanca
authors: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Infection Control and Environmental Health, PO Box 4404, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Maria.Elisabeth.Hagerup-Jenssen@fhi.no.
authors: Maria Elisabeth
authors: ME
authors: Hagerup-Jenssen
authors: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Infection Control and Environmental Health, PO Box 4404, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Elmira.Flem@fhi.no.
authors: Elmira
authors: E
authors: Flem
mesh_terms: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007443:Intussusception / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000073887:Vaccination Coverage; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate; C541234:diphtheria-tetanus-five component acellular pertussis-inactivated poliomyelitis -Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine
keywords: Coverage; Rotavirus; Timeliness; Vaccine