Impact and effectiveness of monovalent rotavirus vaccine in Tajik children. Issue 26 (9th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nazurdinov, Anvar; Azizov, Zafarjon; Mullojonova, Manija; Sadykova, Umeda; Mosina, Liudmila; Singh, Simarjit; Suleymonova, Sudoba; Tishkova, Farida; Videbaek, Dovile; Cortese, Margaret M.; Daniels, Danni S.; Burke, Rachel M.
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 40:Issue 26(2022)
• Page Start: 3705
• Page End: 3712
• Publication Date: 2022-06-09
• Subjects: Rotavirus -- Rotavirus vaccines -- Vaccine effectiveness -- Pediatric gastroenteritis; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: Tajikistan introduced rotavirus vaccine in 2015. Pediatric rotavirus hospitalizations decreased significantly during 2016 – 2019, versus 2013 – 2014. Estimated vaccine effectiveness was 55% (95% CI: 21 – 73%) among children 5 – 59 months old. Rotavirus vaccine is impactful and effective in Tajik children. Abstract: Background: In 2015, Tajikistan became the second country in Central Asia to introduce rotavirus vaccine into its national immunization program. Before vaccine introduction, rotavirus was estimated to cause > 40% of pediatric diarrhea hospitalizations in Tajikistan. We aimed to assess the impact of rotavirus vaccine introduction on rotavirus disease burden and estimate rotavirus vaccine effectiveness (VE). Methods: Using surveillance data from 2013 through 2019, we examined trends in monthly hospital admissions among children < 5 years old, before and after rotavirus vaccine introduction. Poisson regression was used to quantify decreases. VE was estimated using a test-negative case control design, with data from admissions during 2017 – 2019. Immunization records were obtained from clinics. Results: Among enrolled children, rotavirus positivity declined from 42% to 25% in the post-vaccine introduction period, a decrease of 41% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 36 – 45%). Declines were greatest in children < 12 months of age. Estimated VE of a complete course of rotavirus vaccine was 55% (95% CI: 21 – 73%) among children 5 – 59 months of age and 64% (95% CI: 36 – 80%) among children 5 – 23 months of age. VE point estimates were higher among children receiving both doses of rotavirus vaccine non-concurrently with OPV and among children receiving their first dose of rotavirus vaccine at 4 – 11 months of age, but CIs were wide and overlapping. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that rotavirus vaccine introduction was associated with a substantial reduction in pediatric rotavirus hospitalization burden in Tajikistan, and that rotavirus vaccination is effective in Tajik children.