Intussusception Risk and Disease Prevention Associated With Rotavirus Vaccines in Australia's National Immunization Program

Background. Estimates of the risk of intussusception (IS) associated with currently licensed rotavirus vaccines (RV1 [Rotarix; GSK] and RV5 [RotaTeq; Merck]) diverge. Contemporaneous introduction of both vaccines in Australia enabled a population-based assessment of risk. Methods. Confirmed cases of IS in infants aged 1 to 6500 fewer gastroenteritis hospitalizations in young children annually in Australia after vaccine introduction. Conclusions. We found a similarly increased risk of IS after both vaccines, but the balance of benefits and risks at population level was highly favorable, a finding likely to extend to other settings despite varying incidence of IS and potentially higher morbidity and mortality from both gastroenteritis and IS.