Public health impact of accelerated immunization against rotavirus infection among children aged less than 6 months in the United States

We developed a cohort model to evaluate the expected public health impact of accelerated regimens for immunization against rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE). Alternative strategies for vaccination with the pentavalent human-bovine reassortant vaccine, Rotateq(®) (RV5, Merck) and the oral live attenuated human rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix(®) (RV1, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines) were considered, including acceleration of the 1st dose only (by 2 weeks) as well as acceleration of the 1st (by 2 weeks) and subsequent doses (by up to 10 weeks). Assuming vaccine coverage levels consistent with current US clinical practice, accelerated regimens would be expected to reduce annual numbers of RVGE-related hospitalizations by 300-400, emergency department visits by 3000-4000, and outpatient visits by 3000-4000 (i.e., by 9-14%) among US children aged <6 months. Accordingly, accelerating the immunization of children against RVGE may yield substantive reductions in the number of RV-related encounters in US clinical practice.