RotaFlash

Produced from 2011 to 2016, RotaFlash provided breaking scientific news on rotavirus disease and vaccines and updates on PATH and our partners’ progress toward increasing global access to vaccines against rotavirus, the leading cause of severe and fatal diarrhea in young children worldwide.

Click on the links below to access past issues.

December 1, 2016

Health economics tools build evidence for rotavirus vaccine introduction

• Workshop in Bangkok equips decision-makers to make the case for rotavirus vaccines
• Rotavirus researcher Dr. Gagandeep Kang awarded Infosys Prize in life sciences
• Note: New PATH immunization newsletter and transition of rotavirus resources

September 20, 2016

Honoring progress and superheroes at Twelfth International Rotavirus Symposium

• From September 7 to 9, 2016, more than 350 people from over 57 countries gathered in Melbourne, Australia for theTwelfth International Rotavirus Symposium.
• Speakers shared updates on rotavirus science and research, vaccine impact data,clinical trials of new vaccines in development, and perspectives from country governments and regulatory agencies on the introduction of rotavirus vaccines.
• From June 1-2, the Center for Vaccine Development-Mali hosted the Tenth African Rotavirus Symposium in Bamako, Mali to urge introduction and prioritization of rotavirus vaccines inAfrican countries.

April 13, 2016

New studies highlight tremendous health and economic benefits of rotavirus vaccination

• Data from a new journal supplement reveal the widespread impact of rotavirus vaccines in preventing death and disease from rotavirus diarrhea in low-income countries around the world, while also highlighting the need for continued rollout of rotavirus vaccines given the burden of rotavirus that still remains.
• Astudy from Rwanda shows a reduction in the economic burden of diarrhea following rotavirus vaccine introduction.
• A new white paper serves as an advocacy tool in countries considering the introduction of rotavirus vaccine.

February 16, 2016

Childhood diarrhea hospitalizations plummet in Rwanda

• A new study reveals a substantial drop in hospital admissions for diarrhea following Rwanda’s 2012 rotavirus vaccine introduction.
• Studies in Bangladesh and Ghana find that alternative dosing schedules improved immune responses to rotavirus vaccines.
• The number of countries that have introduced rotavirus vaccines is now at 80.

May 12, 2015

Rotavirus vaccines predicted to be highly cost-effective in several low- and middle-income countries

• On Tuesday, May 12,PAHO announced a new supplement in the journal Vaccinethat includes results from a series of studies projecting that national rotavirus vaccination programs will be highly cost-effective and substantially reduce child illness and deaths due to rotavirus diarrhea.
• PATH launched a new animated video, “Rotavirus vaccines: Rapid rollout is saving lives,” and companion infographicthat explain the importance of accessible, low-cost rotavirus vaccines for children around the world and celebrate the rapid scale-up of rotavirus vaccine introductions.

March 12, 2015

India rolls out ROTAVAC® in private sector

• On Monday, March 9, 2015, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out an indigenously developed and manufactured rotavirus vaccine, ROTAVAC®, for the private market.
• PATH, a key partner in the development of ROTAVAC® since 2001, welcomed the news that Bharat Biotech launched ROTAVAC® in the private sector.
• The Government of India is currently developing a plan for a phased rollout of the vaccine in the UIP, which will benefit the poorest populations who are most at-risk of severe illness or death from rotavirus diarrhea.

February 9, 2015

Significant reductions in rotavirus-related hospitalizations in Malawi

Argentina and Tajikistan introduce rotavirus vaccines, bringing worldwide total to 75

• New data from Malawi, one of the first Gavi-eligible African countries to introduce rotavirus vaccines into its national immunization program, demonstrate remarkable protection by vaccine against rotavirus-related hospitalizations.
• The study found that rotavirus vaccination at 6 and 10 weeks of age was 64% effective in preventing hospitalization for rotavirus diarrhea among vaccinated infants and children in Malawi.
• Argentina introduced rotavirus vaccines to its routine childhood vaccination schedule on January 1, 2015 and Tajikistan introduced on January 8, 2015.

December 2, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Senegal & Namibia protect their children from deadly diarrhea

Launch of regional platform of francophone civil society organizations at Francophonie Summit

• Two more African countries – Namibia and Senegal – introduced lifesaving rotavirus vaccines in November, bringing the total number of African country rotavirus introductions to 23.
• Senegal’s rotavirus launch ceremony took place in advance of the 15th Francophonie Summit, which was held this year in Dakar.
• Francophone civil society organizations (CSOs) launched the Francophone African CSOs’ Platform for Health System Strengthening and Immunization (OAFRESS) at a meeting held before the Summit.
• A new study recently accepted for publication estimates that a rotavirus vaccination program in Senegal could prevent approximately 1.5 million rotavirus cases and 6,500 rotavirus deaths in Senegal over 2014-2033.

November 21, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Rotavirus infections and related hospitalizations and deaths plummet in Brazil

New studies show remarkable evidence of rotavirus vaccine impact and effectiveness in Brazil 8 years after introduction of vaccines

• Three new studies from Brazil highlight the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccines in preventing rotavirus hospitalizations and their impact on reducing rates of rotavirus infection and all-cause diarrheal deaths and hospitalizations eight years after introducing rotavirus vaccines.
• Two impact studies found that diarrhea hospitalization and death rates for children one year of age and younger were significantly lower after rotavirus vaccine introduction in 2006.
• An effectiveness study found that the adjusted vaccine effectiveness for two doses of rotavirus vaccine was 72%, and that this protection lasted for two years.

November 7, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Ethiopia perseveres to deliver rotavirus vaccines to all regions

Government, NGOs, religious leaders, and communities collaborate to overcome challenges in first year of rollout

• November 7, 2014, marks one year since Ethiopia’s national launch of rotavirus vaccines.
• Somali region of Ethiopia introduces rotavirus vaccines following polio outbreak
• PATH’s partnership with Ethiopia supports vaccine launches and enables broad community mobilization for immunization
• From infants to adults, tackling two diseases—rotavirus and meningitis—together

October 29, 2014 / with French translation / avec traduction française

Global total of national rotavirus vaccine introductions reaches 70 with Norway

New rotavirus vaccines advance in their development as rollouts continue to rise

• Norwegian infants born after September 1, 2014 are now eligible for rotavirus vaccination, bringing the total number of countries with national rotavirus immunization programs to 70.
• New rotavirus vaccine candidates are progressing through various stages of development.
• The 2015 Vaccines for Enteric Diseases Conference is now calling for abstracts.

October 8, 2014 / with French translation / avec traduction française

South Africa and US studies demonstrate rotavirus disease prevention in new populations

New studies highlight reductions in rotavirus hospitalizations and indirect protection of household members

• New data from South Africa represents the first evidence that rotavirus vaccines are effective in preventing rotavirus hospitalizations in routine-use conditions in Africa in a setting with a high prevalence of maternal HIV infection.
• The study found that, just a few years after the vaccines were introduced in 2009, South African children under two years old who were fully vaccinated against rotavirus were 57% less likely to be hospitalized for rotavirus diarrhea compared to unvaccinated children.
• A US study is the first of its kind to examine protection from rotavirus and all-cause diarrhea among household members of infants vaccinated against rotavirus.

September 15, 2014 /with French translation / avec traduction française

Record attendance at the 11th International Rotavirus Symposium in New Delhi, India

New journal supplement highlights burden of rotavirus in India and progress of national rotavirus vaccine development

• From September 3-5, 2014, over 650 delegates from 54 countries around the world joined international experts in New Delhi, India for the Eleventh International Rotavirus Symposium.
• Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan from India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare gave opening remarks confirming the Indian government’s commitment to introduce rotavirus vaccines into its Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) this year.
• PATH scientists and collaborators presented several talks highlighting PATH’s work across the rotavirus vaccine spectrum from development to delivery.
• On August 11, 2014,Vaccinepublished an open-access supplement entitled, “Rotavirus in India: An update on epidemiology and vaccines.”

August 19, 2014 /with French translation / avec traduction française

Rotavirus vaccines now in Niger and Eritrea

Dual launch in Niger means more children’s lives saved more quickly

• Continued country introductions mark steady progress for rotavirus vaccine uptake in Africaas Niger and Eritrea introduced rotavirus vaccines this month, bringing the global total to 69 countries
• Rotavirus is a substantial cause of child death and hospitalization in Niger and Eritrea
• Niger’s dual launch follows other successful simultaneous introductions

August 4, 2014

Rotavirus technical experts meet to prioritize intussusception research agenda

WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety recommends further use of ROTAVAC®

• On July 23 and 24, the ROTA Council and core partners convened a group of experts at for the “Rotavirus Vaccination & Intussusception Workshop: Science, Surveillance & Safety”
• Benefits of rotavirus vaccination outweigh risk of intussusception
• WHO GACVS reviews safety profile of ROTAVAC®, the Indian-developed vaccine whose licensure in India was recently announced

July 2, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Estonia, Kenya & New Zealand – 67 countries and counting

Germany and Mexico see definitive decreases in rotavirus and all-cause diarrhea hospitalizations

• The incredible pace of rotavirus vaccine introductions in national immunization programs around the world continues with Estonia, Kenya, and New Zealand introducing on July 1, 2014, bringing the global total to 67 countries
• Kenya rolls out rotavirus vaccines as part of its integrated approach to diarrheal disease prevention and control
• Rotavirus vaccines provide potent protection from severely dehydrating diarrhea in Germany and Mexico

June 24, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Rotavirus vaccines reach Djibouti, Togo, and Uzbekistan

Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Togo mobilize and motivate rural communities to vaccinate their children

• Three more GAVI-eligible countries welcomed rotavirus vaccines into their national immunization programs—Djibouti (June 22), Togo (June 19), and Uzbekistan (June 16)
• Rotavirus diarrhea takes a heavy toll on young children in all three countries
• “Don’t wait to vaccinate!” Aristide Djenda, Director of Togolese CSO UONGTO, urges rural communities to protect their children

June 20, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

8th African Rotavirus Symposium highlights science, policy, and progress

Delegates empowered to advocate for sustained rotavirus vaccine introduction

• Scientists and policymakers from 27 African countries joined international experts in Livingstone, Zambia for the 8th African Rotavirus Symposium from June 12-13, 2014
• Delegates empowered to advocate for sustained rotavirus vaccine introduction in session on translating science to policy: “Make them worry!”
• PATH scientists and collaborators present new scientific data at Symposium

May 20, 201 | with French translation / avec traduction française

GAVI replenishment 2016–2020: help immunize 300 million kids

GAVI announces funding request as African leaders renew support for vaccines

• The GAVI Alliance launched its 2016–2020 replenishment cycle on May 20, 2014 with a request for US$7.5 billion in investments from donors over the next five years
• US$7.5 billion for vaccines could save 5 to 6 million lives
• African leaders pledge US$700 million to co-finance vaccines with GAVI

May 16, 2014

Europe’s use of rotavirus vaccines yields substantial public health benefits*

More European countries prepare to introduce as data demonstrates impact and safety in Europe

*Please note this is a corrected version. The original RotaFlash inadvertently did not include Israel in the first sentence of the text identifying it as a WHO European Region country that had introduced rotavirus vaccines. Israel was correctly identified in the map in Figure 1.

• To date, nine countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region have introduced rotavirus vaccines into their national immunization programs
• England achieves high coverage and swift impact of rotavirus vaccines in less than a year
• Public health benefits of rotavirus vaccines in England “greatly outweigh” potential risk of intussusception
• Georgia’s rollout of rotavirus vaccines has “gone smoothly” according to WHO

May 5, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Spotlight on Africa around World Immunization Week

Ethiopia highlights “shared responsibility” of vaccination and the Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Madagascar roll out rotavirus vaccines

• African Vaccination Week, April 22-27, 2014, which is one of the regional components of the World Health Organization’s World Immunization Week campaign, is an important forum for promoting the benefits of immunization
• Ethiopia highlights “shared responsibility” of vaccination through a special African Vaccination Week ceremony on April 23
• The Republic of the Congo (April 24), Angola (April 28), and Madagascar (May 5) roll out rotavirus vaccines

April 2, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Rotavirus vaccines welcomed in Cameroon and Sierra Leone

New introductions signal continued progress in the fight against deadly diarrhea

• Both Cameroon and Sierra Leone introduced rotavirus vaccines on March 28, 2014
• Rotavirus is a substantial cause of child death and hospitalization in both countries

March 14, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

GACVS review of intussusception data provides reassurance that the benefits of rotavirus vaccines still outweigh risks

WHO recommendation for universal rotavirus vaccination remains unchanged

• Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) reviewed new intussusception data in December 2013 to update its assessment of the risk of intussusception related to RotaTeq® and Rotarix®
• US data shows low risk of intussusception

March 12, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

New Indian rotavirus vaccine ROTAVAC® holds great promise for reducing the burden of rotavirus disease

Innovative collaborative vaccine development effort addresses major health problem

• Results from the Phase 3 efficacy trial of ROTAVAC®, a new rotavirus vaccine developed and tested in India, were published on March 12, 2014 inThe Lancet
• Tremendous burden of rotavirus in India
• ROTAVAC®’s potential to increase children’s access to rotavirus vaccines
• Novel collaborative model for future vaccine development

January 23, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Studies confirm importance of rotavirus surveillance in Africa

Special supplement to the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal describes the critical role of monitoring disease burden and vaccine impact

• This special, extended RotaFlashsummarizes key findings from the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journalsupplement and discusses the value of surveillance for the future of rotavirus vaccines
• Development and expansion of rotavirus surveillance in Africa
• Strategic review of WHO-coordinated Global Rotavirus Surveillance Network (GRSN)
• Surveillance confirms importance of rotavirus as a cause of diarrheal disease in Africa
• Rotavirus strain monitoring reveals diversity of strains in Africa
• Increased monitoring of intussusception through surveillance in Africa
• Eighth African Rotavirus Symposium: Call for abstracts

January 15, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Mali puts children first in the fight against rotavirus

From clinical trial to GEMS study site to vaccine introduction

• Yesterday’s milestone launch of rotavirus vaccines in Mali highlights Mali’s unwavering commitment to the health and lives of its children
• Dr. Kathy Neuzil highlights the importance of PATH’s rotavirus work for the vaccine launch in Mali in a blog
• Rotavirus is a substantial cause of death and hospitalization for children in Mali

January 9, 2014 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Rota Roundup 2013 – An unprecedented year of remarkable progress

Critical advances in policy, science, and access hold great promise for 2014

• 2013 was a remarkable year for rotavirus vaccine policy, science, and access, with critical advances summarized in PATH’s “2013 Rota Roundup” infographic
• Ten new countries introduced rotavirus vaccines in 2013, bringing the global total to 52
• New policy initiatives from WHO and UNICEF expanded the potential for more children in more countries to access lifesaving rotavirus vaccines
• A wide array of scientific studies added to the growing body of evidence that rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea, and rotavirus vaccines are saving lives and improving health in countries where children have access to them

December 16, 2013 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Burundi battles rotavirus with vaccines

Rollout of rotavirus vaccines across Africa continues

• Coinciding with the start of its second annual Mother-Child Health Week, on December 16 Burundi became the 19th GAVI-eligible country and 13th country in Africa to introduce rotavirus vaccines into its national immunization program
• Integrated diarrhea control strategies in Burundi
• Accelerated rollout of rotavirus vaccines across Africa

November 27, 2013

First in Lusaka then nationwide, Zambia rolls out rotavirus vaccines

Focus on integrated approaches for comprehensive diarrheal disease control

• On November 27, 2013, Zambia celebrated the national scale-up of rotavirus vaccination following a successful pilot in Lusaka. Zambia is the 18th GAVI-eligible country and 12th country in Africa to introduce rotavirus vaccines into its national immunization program
• Rotavirus diarrhea takes a heavy toll in Zambia
• Foundation for Zambia’s national rotavirus vaccine introduction set by Lusaka pilot
• Zambia prepares to host the 8th Annual African Rotavirus Symposium in June 2014

November 21, 2013

Unanticipated benefits of rotavirus vaccination in the United States

Reduction of rotavirus-related seizures and adult gastroenteritis hospitalizations

• Rotavirus vaccines may reduce rotavirus-related seizures by 20% potentially saving US$7 million in health care costs
• Reductions of adult gastroenteritis hospitalizations since start of infant rotavirus vaccination program

November 8, 2013

Rotavirus vaccines will help 2.8 million Ethiopian children live healthier lives

Celebration in Addis Ababa marks start of nationwide introduction

• With the uplifting theme “Saving children’s lives through rota vaccines,” on November 7, 2013, Ethiopia became the 17th GAVI-eligible country and 11th African country to introduce vaccines against rotavirus—the leading cause of severe and deadly diarrhea in young children—into its national immunization program
• Ethiopia’s rotavirus burden is among top five worldwide
• Study shows rotavirus vaccines in Ethiopia will reduce deaths and household costs
• PATH and Ethiopia: partners in immunization and beyond

November 1, 2013 | with French translation / avec traduction française

Burkina Faso takes on burden of diarrhea and pneumonia together

Dual vaccine launch follows success of MenAfriVac® introduction

• On October 31, 2013, Burkina Faso became the 16th GAVI-eligible country and 10th African country to introduce rotavirus vaccines as well as the 33rd GAVI-eligible country to introduce pneumococcal vaccines into its national immunization program
• High burden of pneumonia and diarrhea in Burkina Faso
• Highlighting advocacy efforts of champion pediatricians in Burkina Faso
• MenAfriVac® knocks out meningitis in Burkina Faso

October 2, 2013

Rotavirus vaccines = decrease in deaths, hospitalizations, and health care costs| Studies demonstrate public health and economic impact in diverse settings

• Rotavirus hospitalizations plummet in urban and rural provinces in South Africa
• Substantial drops in diarrhea deaths and hospitalizations seen across four Latin American countries
• Australian territories experience significant declines in rotavirus and all-cause gastroenteritis hospitalizations
• $187 million dollars saved in US health care costs after rotavirus vaccine implementation

August 15, 2013

Preventing rotavirus diarrhea in The Gambia

Fifteenth GAVI-eligible country to introduce rotavirus vaccines

• On August 14, 2013, The Gambia became the 15th GAVI eligible country and 47th country worldwide to introduce lifesaving rotavirus vaccines into its national immunization program
• Rotavirus is the leading cause of moderate to severe diarrhea in Gambian children
• GAVI support for rotavirus vaccines in Africa

July 22, 2013

New US and Australian intussusception data: benefits of vaccination outweigh risks

CDC continues to recommend that all US infants receive rotavirus vaccine

• Big public health impact; small increased risk of intussusception
• GAVI’s support for intussusception monitoring and rotavirus impact studies

June 19, 2013

Bolivia’s bet on rotavirus vaccines pays off

Powerful evidence of vaccine effectiveness in lower income settings

• Key questions about vaccine effectiveness answered
• Study findings applicable to high child mortality settings in Africa and Asia

June 12, 2013

Rotavirus vaccines deliver powerful public health impacts in the United States

Benefits of vaccination extend beyond infants and young children

• Rotavirus vaccination program in the U.S. yields fantastic health returns
• Rotavirus vaccination of infants may also protect adults

May 14, 2013

GEMS study shows rotavirus is #1 cause of moderate-to-severe diarrhea in children under two years of age

New rotavirus vaccine developed in India reduced severe rotavirus diarrhea by more than half

• Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) underscores severe rotavirus burden in developing world
• ROTAVAC® Phase 3 clinical trial demonstrates strong efficacy
• Rotavirus vaccines are essential to comprehensive diarrhea-control strategies

April 29, 2013

Haiti introduces lifesaving rotavirus vaccines

Widespread use in Americas region has major impact on childhood deaths from diarrhea

• On April 27, 2013, Haiti became the fifth and final GAVI-eligible country in the Americas region to introduce rotavirus vaccines, joining Bolivia, Guyana, Honduras, and Nicaragua, which were among the first GAVI countries to rollout this lifesaving intervention
• Rollout of rotavirus vaccines across Latin America and the Caribbean demonstrates their power to save children’s lives

March 5, 2013

Mexico sees dramatic~50% drop in diarrhea deaths across socioeconomic regions

Equitable distribution of rotavirus vaccines to all regions is primary factor

• Rotavirus vaccines lead to substantial drops in diarrheal deaths in young Mexican children
• Equitable vaccine delivery to all socioeconomic regions is vital to reducing deaths

February 4, 2013

WHO issues new rotavirus vaccines position paper

Recommendation to relax age restrictions for rotavirus vaccination clarified

• The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a new rotavirus vaccines position paper that reaffirms its recommendation that rotavirus vaccines should be included in all national immunization programs, especially in countries with high death rates, such as those in South and South-eastern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
• Rotavirus vaccines as part of comprehensive diarrheal disease control strategy
• Relaxation of age restrictions clarified

January 15, 2013

Affordable rotavirus vaccines for middle income countries

UNICEF tender will vastly improve access and help accelerate uptake of new vaccines

• In an effort to address inequitable access to new vaccines, UNICEF has announced a tender to establish affordable and sustainable supplies of rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate, and human papillomavirus vaccines for middle income countries (MICs).
• GAVI funding for rotavirus vaccines in MICs
• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) “Revolving Fund” for vaccines and supplies
• UNICEF’s hybrid procurement strategy

December 6, 2012

Tanzania tackles rotavirus and pneumococcal disease together

Simultaneous introduction of vaccines will combat major child killers

• On December 6, 2012, Tanzania simultaneous launched vaccines against the primary causes of two of the leading childhood killers in Tanzania and worldwide – pneumonia and diarrhea
• Burden of rotavirus in [Tanzania] [sic.Ghana]
• Pediatricians in Tanzania celebrate the arrival of rotavirus vaccines
• GAVI Alliance Partners’ Forum in Tanzania

October 29, 2012

Historic rollout of rotavirus vaccines continues across Africa

Malawi is fourth GAVI-eligible African country to introduce rotavirus vaccines

• On October 29, 2012, Malawi became the tenth GAVI-eligible country worldwide to provide lifesaving rotavirus vaccines as part of its routine childhood immunization program
• Malawi’s remarkable contribution to the rollout across Africa
• Malawi’s clinical trials data leads to WHO recommendations
• Rotavirus disease exacts a heavy toll in Malawi
• Rotavirus vaccines are cost-effective for Malawi

October 23, 2012

WHO recommendation to remove age restrictions for rotavirus vaccination will save lives

Study shows rotavirus vaccine can save thousands of lives in low- and middle-income countries

• Age restrictions for rotavirus vaccination
• WHO’s new recommendations for rotavirus vaccination

August 1, 2012

Yemen the first GAVI-eligible country in the Middle East to introduce lifesaving rotavirus vaccines

38 countries on 6 continents now offer rotavirus vaccines as part of national immunization programs

• On August 1, 2012, Yemen became the first GAVI-eligible country in the Middle East region to introduce rotavirus vaccines into its national immunization program
• Rotavirus exacts huge toll on Yemeni health system

May 25, 2012

Rwanda introduces rotavirus vaccine to save children from deadly diarrhea

Rollout of rotavirus vaccines across Africa continues

• On May 25, 2012, Rwanda became the third African country to utilize GAVI support for rotavirus vaccine introduction after Sudan (July 2011) and Ghana (April 2102).
• Burden of rotavirus in Africa
• Expected impact of rotavirus vaccines in Rwanda
• GAVI support for rotavirus vaccines in Africa

April 27, 2012

Ghana takes on top two child killers simultaneously

Historic dual rollout of rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines—a first for Africa

• Ghana is the first African country to simultaneously introduce vaccines against leading childhood killers—diarrhea and pneumonia
• Burden of rotavirus in Ghana
• Rotavirus vaccines are cost-effective for Ghana
• Lifesaving impact for Ghanaian children

April 24, 2012

Rotavirus vaccines projected to save more than 2.4 million lives in developing countries by 2030

Special supplement to the journal Vaccine provides critical insights to maximize vaccine impact in low-resource settings

• Rotavirus vaccines offer the best hope for preventing severe rotavirus disease and the deadly dehydrating diarrhea it causes.
• Supplement Highlights
• PATH: Maximizing [sic.] Impact of Rotavirus Vaccines

April 10, 2012

Low price pledge for rotavirus vaccines now a reality

GAVI delivers on promise to increase access for poor countries

• GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co. Inc. will supply a respective 95% and 5% of the total procured volume of rotavirus vaccines at substantially reduced prices
• PATH collaborating with emerging-country vaccine manufacturers

February 7, 2012

No increased risk for intussusception in the United States

Use of vaccines in US has substantially reduced burden of severe rotavirus disease

• Two new US studies find no increased risk of intussusception following administration of rotavirus vaccines
• Rotavirus vaccines have made a tremendous public health impact.

January 27, 2012

Zambia launches multifaceted attack to combat rotavirus and other causes of diarrhea

Innovative partnership rolls out comprehensive program to prevent and treat diarrheal disease

• Launch of the Program for Awareness and Elimination of Diarrhea

January 10, 2012

The Philippines will begin vaccinating children against rotavirus in 2012

First Southeast Asian nation to implement WHO 2009 recommendation

• Philippines will be the first Southeast Asian country to introduce rotavirus vaccines in its national immunization program
• Initial focus on poorest communities

October 25, 2011

Worldwide child mortality from rotavirus remains high

~95% of rotavirus deaths in 2008 occurred in GAVI countries

• A new study in theLancet Infectious Diseasesjournal revealed that rotavirus remains a major killer of children under five years of age worldwide
• Rotavirus took the lives of an estimated 453,000 children in 2008—more than 1,200 each day—in mostly GAVI-eligible countries in Africa and Asia

September 27, 2011

A lifeline for children across the African continent and beyond

GAVI approves rotavirus vaccine funding for 16 new countries, 12 in Africa

• The GAVI Alliance approved rotavirus vaccine funding for 16 new countries, including 12 in Africa
• Africa has a staggering burden of rotavirus disease and vaccines are desperately needed there to prevent severe rotavirus diarrhea and save children’s lives

September 23, 2011

Proof positive: Fewer kids hospitalized = $$ and lives saved!

A Compelling Case for Widespread Rotavirus Introduction

• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a new study entitledRotavirus Vaccine and Health Care Utilization for Diarrhea in US Children,
• 65,000 diarrhea-related hospitalizations of US children under five were averted in the three years following the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in the US, strengthening the evidence base for rotavirus vaccine effectiveness

September 1, 2011

Benefits of rotavirus vaccine extend beyond vaccinated infants

Fewer adults and older children hospitalized following introduction of infant vaccination

• Following an examination of data from 2000 to 2008, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published the unexpected finding that vaccinating infants against rotavirus appears to prevent severe disease in older children and adults in the US
• There appears to be a strong “herd immunity” effect from rotavirus vaccines
• Rotavirus vaccination indirectly averted approximately 10,000 hospitalizations in 2008 of 5-24-year-olds in the US, saving roughly $40 million in healthcare costs

July 17, 2011

GAVI’s historic rollout of rotavirus vaccines in Africa begins today!

• July 17, 2011 marks a milestone in global health—the first nationwide introduction of rotavirus vaccine in a GAVI-eligible African country
• Each year, more than a quarter of a million African children die from rotavirus infection

June 6, 2011

Substantial price reductions for rotavirus vaccines for GAVI-eligible countries

• Multinational and emerging marketing manufacturers including GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, and Bharat Biotech offered substantial price reductions on rotavirus vaccines to the GAVI Alliance
• These reductions will maximize GAVI’s ability to provide life-saving vaccines to children in the world’s poorest countries

April 29, 2011

Global burden of rotavirus diarrhea remains high

Children Need Rotavirus Vaccines Now!

• The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated estimates of global rotavirus disease burden
• Updated estimates show that rotavirus is still a significant global public health problem

Jan 20, 2011

Special issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal spotlights impact of rotavirus vaccines on children’s health around the world

• A special supplement to the January 2011 edition of thePediatric Infectious Disease Journal(PIDJ) shows the dramatic effect that rotavirus vaccines have on reducing child hospitalizations following their introduction in national immunization programs
• The studies show that in the two to three years following the rollout of rotavirus vaccines in national immunization programs, countries experienced striking and swift reductions in hospitalizations due to rotavirus diarrhea in children under five