Rotavirus

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoeal disease in infants and young children globally. Rotaviruses are estimated to be responsible for approximately 530,000* deaths each year. Children under five years of age, especially those between 6 months and two years are most vulnerable to the disease. Vaccine against rotavirus is available and is the single prevention and control measure with the most significant impact on reducing severe disease incidence. Currently, two oral vaccines compatible with traditional EPI immunization schedules are available, licensed in most countries and have been introduced in national immunization programmes of several American countries. Several other live oral rotavirus vaccines are in various stages of development in conjunction with vaccine manufacturers in developing countries. Large safety studies with the two commercially available rotavirus vaccines have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and under clinical trial conditions.

WHO position papers

Further information

Last updated: 17 August 2009