Impact of Rotavirus Vaccine on Admissions due to Acute Gastroenteritis and Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Israel

AIM We examined the impact of insertion of the Rotavirus vaccine (RVV) into the Israeli national immunization program (NIP) on hospitalizations due to both acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE( in children. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of children aged <5 years admitted with a diagnosis of AGE between 2008 and 2016 in two children's hospitals in central Israel. Clinical, laboratory, microbiological data and RV immunization status were retrieved. Data were compared before and after the introduction of the RVV into the NIP. RESULTS A total of 2042 children were admitted with AGE. Hospitalizations due to AGE and RVGE decreased from 3310 to 1950 and from 1027 to 585 per 100 000 admissions, respectively after the RVV (relative risk reduction (RRR) of 41% and 43%, respectively). RV remained the most common pathogen in both study periods. There was no significant difference in the clinical course between immunized and non-immunized children admitted with RVGE. CONCLUSION The introduction of the RVV to the NIP significantly reduced the admissions due to both AGE and RVGE in children < 5 years. However, RV is still the most common agent for admissions due to AGE in this age group.