While rotavirus vaccine indirect effects are established in higher-income settings, targeted efforts are required to evaluate these herd effects in low-income countries to understand total impact.
Highlights the critical need to measure the indirect effects of rotavirus vaccines in low-income countries to accurately assess their global impact and cost-effectiveness.
Widespread introduction of rotavirus vaccines has led to major reductions in the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis worldwide. Vaccine effectiveness is diminished, however, in low income countries, that harbour the greatest burden of rotavirus attributed morbidity and mortality. Indirect effects of rotavirus vaccine (herd immunity and herd protection) could increase population level impact and improve vaccine cost effectiveness in such settings. While rotavirus vaccine indirect effects have been demonstrated in high and middle income countries, there are very little data from low income countries where force of infection, population structures and vaccine schedules differ. Targeted efforts to evaluate indirect effects of rotavirus vaccine in low income countries are required to understand the total impact of rotavirus vaccine on the global burden of rotavirus disease.
Bennett et al. (2016) conducted an editorial in Rotavirus gastroenteritis. Rotavirus vaccine was evaluated. While rotavirus vaccine indirect effects are established in higher-income settings, targeted efforts are required to evaluate these herd effects in low-income countries to understand total impact.
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