Use of Rotavirus Vaccines May Save 2.5 Million Lives by 2025

[Guest guest]

Ain’t

scientific advancement great. On a related note, the new TB vaccine in phase 1

trials not only vaccinates, but is immunogenic in people with TB…this is

very important to people with TB in the US and abroad.

Now I hear

that there some people who don’t like vaccines…well I can say from

the bottom of my heart that they can go suck a rotavirus.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/590518?src=mp & spon=30 & uac=13397HK

Use of Rotavirus Vaccines

May Save 2.5 Million Lives by 2025

Laurie Barclay, MD

April

2, 2009 — Global use of rotavirus vaccines could potentially save 2.5

million lives by 2025, according to a briefing paper released March 31 by PATH,

an international nonprofit organization that helps provide appropriate health

technologies by collaborating with diverse public- and private-sector partners.

" Rotavirus

is one of the most deadly diseases children in the developing world face, "

Dr. Wecker, PATH director of immunization solutions, said in a news

release. " Vaccination holds the key to making this disease one of the most

preventable. We need to stand ready to deliver vaccines to children in Africa

and Asia, where most rotavirus deaths occur. "

Although

rotavirus vaccines are already widely used in North America, Latin America, and

Europe, the disease burden is greatest in Africa and Asia, where there is

limited availability of lifesaving medical care, and where these vaccines are

therefore urgently needed.

Worldwide,

rotavirus is responsible for the most prevalent and lethal form of diarrhea in

young children, accounting for more than 2 million hospitalizations each year,

as well as 500,000 deaths, of which more than 85% occur in children living in

developing African and Asian countries. It is estimated that by age 3 years,

every child is likely to contract rotavirus infection, regardless of their

country of residence or socioeconomic status.

Symptoms

of rotavirus infection include severe diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, which, if

untreated, often result in severe dehydration, causing shock, cardiac

arrhythmia, and death.

Rotavirus

vaccination can prevent hospitalization for this infection, with an up to 80%

reduction in hospitalizations and emergency department visits in the United

States alone. In developing countries, improvements in water supply and

sanitation help prevent other diarrheal infections but are ineffective in

reducing incidence of rotavirus. Only adequate supply of vaccines can therefore

help prevent deaths from rotavirus in these countries, where access to

intravenous rehydration and other lifesaving medical interventions is limited.

This

month the World Health Organization (WHO) will review data from a large-scale

clinical rotavirus vaccine trial in Africa (Rotarix, GlaxoKline)

and from other rotavirus vaccine trials worldwide. On the basis of their

findings, WHO will consider recommending introduction of rotavirus vaccines in

all countries. Previous WHO recommendations have been to include rotavirus vaccines

in national immunization programs of countries in which clinical trials showed

safety and efficacy of rotavirus vaccination.

Two

such large-scale clinical trials, performed in Europe, Latin America, and the

United States in 2006, indicated safety and efficacy of the orally administered

rotavirus vaccines Rotarix and RotaTeq (Merck and Co Inc).

Findings from an African and Asian trial of RotaTeq are anticipated in fall

2009.

" Global

and national leaders are ready to accelerate wider access to these lifesaving

vaccines as soon as they are recommended for use in other regions of the

world, " Dr. Wecker said. " Preventing rotavirus-related deaths is a

global health imperative. "

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