Decline in rotavirus hospitalisations following introduction of Australia's national rotavirus immunisation programme

Aim: To determine the impact of rotavirus immunisation on rotavirus hospitalisations in young children. Methods: Annual hospitalisations for rotavirus gastroenteritis to The Children's Hospital at Westmead, a tertiary care paediatric hospital in Sydney, were recorded from 2001 for 6 years prior to and 2.5 years following the introduction of rotavirus vaccines to the National Immunisation Program. Data on hospital-acquired rotavirus gastroenteritis were collected prospectively. Results: Hospitalisations for rotavirus gastroenteritis declined in the two full rotavirus seasons (2008 and 2009) after vaccine introduction by 75% compared with mean annual hospitalisations from 2001 to 2006. The greatest decline was seen in those < 12 months of age (93%), but the reduction occurred consistently across all age groups, even in children not eligible for immunisation, suggesting an effect on herd immunity. A substantial decline in nosocomial rotavirus gastroenteritis was seen from 2007 to 2009, suggesting a reduction in virus transmission in the hospital setting. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a substantial reduction in hospitalisations in children of all ages to a large paediatric hospital and reduced nosocomial infections since the introduction of a nationally funded rotavirus immunisation programme in Australia.