Reduction in Pediatric Rotavirus-related Hospitalizations After Universal Rotavirus Vaccination in Belgium

BACKGROUND:This study investigated the effect of pediatric vaccination against rotavirus on the number of rotavirus-related hospitalizations of children in Belgium. METHODS:This retrospective database study was conducted at 12 pediatric hospitals in Belgium (546 pediatric beds, 30.6% of Belgian total). Children ≤5 years attending hospital for any reason were eligible if they had a rotavirus stool test at one of the study centers. The number of rotavirus-positive stool tests and hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were compared for prevaccination (June 2004–May 2006) and postvaccination (June 2007–May 2009) study periods. RESULTS:The number of rotavirus-positive stool tests in children who were ≤5 years of age decreased from an average of 881 in the prevaccination period to 368 in the first year postvaccination period and 199 in the second. In children 2 to 24 months of age, the percentage reductions were 65% (95% confidence interval [CI]62%, 69%) and 80% (95% CI77%, 83%) in the first and second years after vaccination, respectively, compared with prevaccination. In children 24 months the corresponding values were 20% (95% CI14%, 28%) and 64% (95% CI56%, 72%). The number of AGE-driven hospital admissions and hospitalization days for AGE declined by 33% and 36%, respectively, from prevaccination to the second year postvaccination in children ≤2 years of age. CONCLUSIONS:Pediatric rotavirus vaccination in Belgium significantly reduced rotavirus-related hospitalizations in the first and second years after introduction.