Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals
The Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals department is responsible for targeting vaccine-preventable diseases, guiding immunization research and establishing immunization policy.
About

Rotavirus

Four oral, live, attenuated rotavirus vaccines, Rotarix™ (derived from a single common strain of human rotavirus); RotaTeq™ (a reassorted bovine-human rotavirus); Rotavac™ (naturally occurring bovine-human reassortant neonatal G9P, also called 116E); and RotaSiil™ (bovine-human reassortant with human G1, G2, G3 and G4 bovine UK G6P[5] backbone) are available internationally and WHO prequalified. All four vaccines are considered highly effective in preventing severe gastrointestinal disease. In low income countries, vaccine efficacy can be lower than in industrialized settings, similar to other live oral vaccines. Even with this lower efficacy, a greater reduction in absolute numbers of severe gastroenteritis and death was seen, due to the higher background rotavirus disease incidence.

WHO recommends that rotavirus vaccines should be included in all national immunization programmes and considered a priority particularly in countries in South and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. WHO continues to recommend that the first dose of rotavirus vaccine be administered as soon as possible after 6 weeks of age, along with DTP vaccination. Apart from a low risk of intussusception (up to 6 per 100 000 infants vaccinated)1 the current rotavirus vaccines are considered safe and well tolerated.

The public health impact of rotavirus vaccination has been demonstrated in several countries. For example, in the USA, a measurable decrease was seen in the number of rotavirus gastroenteritis hospitalizations accompanied by a suggested herd effect protecting older non-vaccinated children, while in Mexico a decline of up to 50% in diarrhoeal deaths in children under 5 years of age was attributed directly to the use of the vaccine.

WHO reiterates that the use of rotavirus vaccines should be part of a comprehensive strategy to control diarrhoeal diseases with the scaling up of both prevention (promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding, handwashing with soap, improved water and sanitation) and treatment packages (including low-osmolarity ORS and zinc).

WHO position paper

    16 July 2021

    Rotavirus vaccines: WHO position paper - July 2021

    Rotavirus vaccine training materials

    Training materials for Rotavirus vaccines