Rotavirus vaccination efficacy in a real-world scenario: a 10-year experience from a secondary hospital in Portugal

Abstract

Introduction: Although recommended, the rotavirus vaccine is not included in Portugal’s routine immunization schedule. This provides an opportunity to evaluate its real-world effectiveness. This study aimed to assess the impact of rotavirus vaccination on reducing infection rates and hospitalizations.”
Material and Methods: This retrospective study examined all pediatric patients who underwent viral antigen stool testing at our hospital between 2012 and 2022. Patients were classified as either rotavirus-positive or rotavirus-negative. Data on vaccination status and hospitalization were obtained from electronic medical records. A control group, matched in size to the rotavirus-positive group, was randomly selected from the rotavirus-negative patients (N= 126).”
Results: Out of 886 viral antigen stool tests performed, 126 (14.2%) returned positive for rotavirus. The median age in the rotavirus-positive group was 16 months (IQR 6–24), compared to 12 months (IQR 4–29) in the negative group. A total of 81 patients (32%) were vaccinated, with a vaccination rate of 15% (N=19) in the positive group and 49% in the negative group (n=62).
Vaccination was linked to a lower number of infections (OR 0.18–0.34) and a reduced hospitalization rate (OR 0.23–0.43). The vaccine’s efficacy beyond the first year of life was also assessed.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the rotavirus vaccination in preventing infection and hospitalization at our hospital. These results highlight the importance of considering the inclusion of the rotavirus vaccine in the routine immunization schedule.