Rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in Hong Kong children.
Rotavirus is a common infectious cause of childhood hospitalisation in Hong Kong. Rotavirus vaccines have been used in the private sector since licensure in 2006 but have not been incorporated in the government's universal Childhood Immunisation Programme. This study aimed to evaluate rotavirus vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation.



This case-control study was conducted in the 2014/2015 rotavirus season in six public hospitals. Hospitalised acute gastroenteritis patients meeting inclusion criteria were recruited and copies of their immunisation records were collected. Case-patients were defined as enrolled subjects with stool specimens obtained in the first 48h of hospitalisation that tested positive for rotavirus, whereas control-patients were those with stool specimens obtained in the first 48h of hospitalisation testing negative for rotavirus. Vaccine effectiveness for administration of at least one dose of either Rotarix(®) (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) or RotaTeq(®) (Merck Research Laboratories) was calculated as 1 minus the odds ratio for rotavirus vaccination history for case-patients versus control-patients.



Among the 525 eligible subjects recruited, immunisation records were seen in 404 (77%) subjects. 31% (162/525 and 126/404) tested positive for rotavirus. In the 404 subjects assessed for vaccine effectiveness, 2.4% and 24% received at least 1 dose of either rotavirus vaccine in case- and control-patients respectively. The unmatched vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for administration of at least one dose of either rotavirus vaccines was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 75%, 98%). The matched analyses by age only and both age and admission date showed 96% (95% CI: 72%, 100%) and 89% (95% CI: 51%, 97%) protection against rotavirus hospitalisation respectively.



Rotavirus vaccine is highly effective in preventing hospitalisation from rotavirus disease in young Hong Kong children.
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Karene Hoi Ting
KHT
Yeung
Epidemiology Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
Jacqueline E
JE
Tate
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Ching Ching
CC
Chan
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Martin C W
MCW
Chan
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Paul K S
PKS
Chan
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Kin Hung
KH
Poon
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Sylvia Luen Yee
SLY
Siu
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Genevieve Po Gee
GPG
Fung
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Kwok Leung
KL
Ng
Department of Paediatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Iris Mei Ching
IMC
Chan
Department of Paediatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Pui Tak
PT
Yu
Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Chi Hang
CH
Ng
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Yu Lung
YL
Lau
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: tony-nelson@cuhk.edu.hk.
E Anthony S
EAS
Nelson
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000627:therapeutic use
C492457:RIX4414 vaccine; C492535:RotaTeq; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
Gastroenteritis; Rotavirus; Rotavirus vaccine; Vaccine effectiveness