In the USA, the new rotavirus vaccine is protecting
those who have had the vaccine - and many who have not been vaccinated. Rotavirus
causes severe gastroenteritis and the vaccine was introduced for babies in the
USA in 2006.
There has been dramatic reduction in hospital
admissions for gastroenteritis in the age group that were vaccinated.
Groups that were too old to have been vaccinated -
older children, adults and even elderly adults also showed a marked reduction
in admissions for rotavirus.
This is a demonstration of "herd immunity"
in action. The fewer people there are in the community who are susceptible to a
virus, the less the virus gets passed around. And if you've ever had anything
to do with a sick baby or child, you will know how good they are at sharing
their infected body fluids with the whole family.
Rotavirus is a major killer of young children in poor
countries, so if this vaccine could be used in such places it could have a
significant impact.
It is licenced in the UK but is not on the NHS routine
vaccination list. Maybe it should be.
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