Impact of Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction for South Australian Children

This project aims to assess vaccine effectiveness in the field following introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in South Australian children. It is important to confirm the benefits of the vaccine post licensure to ensure the best health care options for children. Between July 2007 - June 2008 at the Women's and Children's Hospital, there were approximately 2000 gastroenteritis patient samples analysed, with approximately 200 of these confirmed as rotavirus positive (10%). The current vaccines available in Australia (Rotarix® and RotaTeq® ) are licensed for administration in infants up to six months of age as safety data is not yet available for older children. It is therefore important to determine whether vaccination according to the current Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule can also demonstrate a positive change (less disease and less severe disease) in the burden of rotavirus disease in older unvaccinated children.