Reduction in Acute Gastroenteritis Hospitalizations among US Children After Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine: Analysis of Hospital Discharge Data from 18 US States

Background. In 2006, RotaTeq (RV5) was recommended for routine vaccination of United States (US) infants. We compared hospitalization rates for acute gastroenteritis among US children aged <5 years during pre-RV5 rotavirus seasons from 2000 through 2006 with those during the post-RV5 2007 and 2008 seasons. Methods. Using 100% hospital discharge data from 18 states, accounting for 49% of the US population, we calculated acute gastroenteritis hospitalization rates for children aged <5 years by rotavirus season, 8 age groups (0-2, 3-5, 6-11, 12-17, 18-23, 24-35, 36-47, and 48-59 months), and state. Results. Compared with the median rate for the 2000-2006 rotavirus seasons (101.1 hospitalizations per 10,000 children), the rates for 2007 and 2008 (85.5 and 55.5 hospitalizations per 10,000 children) were 16% and 45% lower, respectively. Children aged 0-2 months had a 28% reduction, those aged 6-23 months had a reduction of 50%, and children aged 3-5 months and 24-59 months had reductions ranging between 42% and 45% during the 2008 rotavirus season, compared with the median rate for 2000-2006 rotavirus seasons. Conclusions. The introduction of the RV5 vaccine was associated with a dramatic reduction in hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis among US children during the 2008 rotavirus season.