The Promise of New Rotavirus Vaccines

Rotavirus disease kills approximately half a million children annually in developing countries and accounts for one third of hospitalizations for diarrhea worldwide.1 In 1999, global efforts to control the tremendous health burden of gastroenteritis suffered an abrupt and unanticipated setback. The first licensed rotavirus vaccine (RotaShield) was withdrawn from the U.S. market less than a year after its introduction because it was associated with an uncommon but potentially life-threatening adverse event, intussusception, at an estimated rate of 1 incident per 10,000 vaccine recipients.2 (Figure) Debate ensued over the possible use of this vaccine in developing countries, where the health . . .