PATH and GAVI, in a joint media release, discuss studies in Mexico and Africa which, “for the first time ever, demonstrate a reduction in diarrheal disease deaths following rotavirus vaccine introduction in Mexico and vaccine efficacy among impoverished populations in Malawi and South Africa.” The research is published in the New England Journal of Medicine [see Journal Watch below for citation and free full text access] Both studies “underscore the importance of vaccination in achieving significant reduction of severe rotavirus infections among children in the developing world, where disease impact is greatest.”
In an editorial accompanying the studies’ results, Mathuram Santosham, Professor of International Health and Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, welcomed these studies for supporting the use of rotavirus vaccines in the poorest countries of the world: “We now have another powerful weapon to add to our armamentarium to combat diarrheal deaths – rotavirus vaccines…Rotavirus vaccine should be introduced immediately in high mortality areas and it should be used as a trigger to energize diarrhea control programs and improve coverage for all the proven interventions for diarrhea.”
Tachi Yamada, president of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, commented, “Diarrhea is rarely a life-threatening problem in rich countries, but in the developing world it is a leading cause of death in children. The world now has an effective vaccine against rotavirus, with the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives every year. The next challenge is to ensure that rotavirus vaccines reach all those in need.”
The GAVI Alliance said it has launched efforts to support the introduction of rotavirus vaccines in at least 44 low-income countries by 2015. Global health organizations have issued a call to action on diarrheal disease to advocate for adequate funding for rotavirus vaccines to prevent and treat this major cause of severe diarrheal disease. The vaccine is an important part of a coordinated approach that combines proven strategies for prevention and treatment of diarrhea, such as oral rehydration therapy, exclusive breastfeeding, zinc supplementation, and improved sanitation to achieve the greatest impact on diarrheal disease morbidity and mortality.
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 