Reduction in acute gastroenteritis hospitalizations among US children after introduction of rotavirus vaccine: analysis of hospital discharge data from 18 US states

Abstract

Background: In 2006, RotaTeq (RV5) was recommended for routine vaccination of United States (US) infants. We compared hospitalization rates for acute gastroenteritis among US children aged <5 years during pre-RV5 rotavirus seasons from 2000 through 2006 with those during the post-RV5 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Methods: Using 100% hospital discharge data from 18 states, accounting for 49% of the US population, we calculated acute gastroenteritis hospitalization rates for children aged <5 years by rotavirus season, 8 age groups (0-2, 3-5, 6-11, 12-17, 18-23, 24-35, 36-47, and 48-59 months), and state.

Results: Compared with the median rate for the 2000-2006 rotavirus seasons (101.1 hospitalizations per 10,000 children), the rates for 2007 and 2008 (85.5 and 55.5 hospitalizations per 10,000 children) were 16% and 45% lower, respectively. Children aged 0-2 months had a 28% reduction, those aged 6-23 months had a reduction of 50%, and children aged 3-5 months and 24-59 months had reductions ranging between 42% and 45% during the 2008 rotavirus season, compared with the median rate for 2000-2006 rotavirus seasons.

Conclusions: The introduction of the RV5 vaccine was associated with a dramatic reduction in hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis among US children during the 2008 rotavirus season.