New data on rotavirus vaccine from Mexico and Africa show lifesaving impact and effectiveness in the developing world

For the first time ever, studies in Mexico and Africa, published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrate a reduction in diarrheal disease deaths following rotavirus vaccine introduction in Mexico and vaccine efficacy among impoverished populations in Malawi and South Africa.

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, reports the GAVI Alliance. Worldwide, rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea, which takes the lives of more than 500,000 children under five every year - with almost half of these deaths occurring in Africa - and causes the hospitalization of millions more.

The findings from these studies informed the World Health Organization's recent recommendation that rotavirus vaccines be included in every nation's immunization program. The recommendation is important for Africa which is hit particularly hard by the disease and places rotavirus vaccines among a comprehensive set of other interventions key to stopping diarrheal disease deaths, including access to clean water, proper sanitation and oral rehydration therapies (ORT), breastfeeding, and vitamin A and zinc supplementation.