Vaccine provides protection against rotavirus acute gastroenteritis

The entire series of pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) may be highly effective in responding to severe rotavirus acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Even partial immunization resulted in significant protection against the virus, according to new research published in the January 18, 2010, online issue of Pediatrics.

This case-controlled study, conducted in February through June 2008 at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, analyzed the efficacy of 3-dose (complete) or 1- or 2-dose (partial) immunizations with RV5 against AGE in US medical practice.

Julie A Boom, MD, of the Texas Children's Hospital, and colleagues analyzed immunization records for pediatric patients with AGE and several controls: rotavirus-negative AGE patients, pediatric patients with acute respiratory infection, and up to 10 children age- and ZIP code-matched to the study group.

"These data suggest that RV5, as used in US clinical practice, is highly effective against severe rotavirus acute gastroenteritis and that even partial immunization confers substantial health benefits. Because of the limitations of this study, these findings should be confirmed with additional studies conducted in other US clinical practice settings," the authors wrote.