Rotavirus, Vaccine and Unanswered Questions: A Perspective from a Least Developed Country

Sher Bahadur Pun

doi:10.31729/jnma.2286

Abstract

Two rotavirus vaccines, RotaTeq (Merck) and Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline) have been developed to neutralize the most common rotavirus serotypes, and are now available in the global market. These vaccines are primarily aimed at reducing rotavirus gastroenteritis in children in the least developed countries, where rotavirus mortality rate is believed to be greatest. Thus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended rotavirus vaccination be included in all national immunization programs, while the least developed countries have so far not come up with clear vision and long term strategy on vaccine implementation, and several questions, in addition to this, remain unanswered.

Highlights

Rotavirus infection is considered as a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children worldwide.[1]
Be early to recommend rotavirus vaccine for use in the least developed countries, unless it ensures that it can provide an adequate level of protection against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in children
It is estimated that more than 80% diarrhea-related childhood deaths attributable to rotavirus infection occur in resource poor countries.[5]

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Rotavirus infection is considered as a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children worldwide.[1] Vaccines against rotavirus gastroenteritis have been developed and are being introduced into childhood immunization programs worldwide. Most clinical trials of Rotavirus vaccines have shown to be highly efficacious, in middle and high income countries. Very few clinical trials have been conducted in the least developed countries, but with unsatisfactory results. Researchers and donors, have suggested include rotavirus vaccines in their national immunization programs. There still remain other differences in views between developed and poor developing countries about rotavirus infection, and have rarely been debated among researchers in the past, which are negligible but highly questionable in the least developed countries. The present article, attempts to raise these issues from the view point of least developed countries

ROTAVIRUS VACCINE AND UNDERESTIMATED CHALLENGES

Patient Protozoan

DOES NEONATAL ROTAVIRUS INFECTION DECREASE THE SEVERITY OF SUBSEQUENT INFECTION?

Developing Countries Developed Countries

Findings

CONCLUSIONS