Measuring rotavirus vaccine effectiveness on a health system
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of the effect of routine childhood rotavirus vaccination on a health system in Merseyside, UK
IRAS ID
155049
Contact name
Nigel Cunliffe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Research summary
Background
In July 2013 Rotavirus vaccination was introduced into the UK’s childhood immunisation programme. At present more than 50 countries include rotavirus vaccine in childhood immunisation programmes. However, uptake in Western Europe has been slow however, with only Austria, Belgium, Finland, Luxemburg and now the UK having rolled out universal rotavirus vaccination programmes to date. Rotavirus, the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children, is responsible for an estimated annual 453,000 deaths among children under 5 years-of-age, with over 90% of deaths occurring in the developing countries. In industrialised countries, rotavirus remains the predominant pathogen associated with diarrhoea. It is therefore important to assess the vaccines impact in the UK, to support continued rotavirus vaccination in the UK and will inform rotavirus immunisation policy in other Western European countries
Methods/Design
Taking advantage of a range of regional healthcare facilities and the availability of an experienced investigator team in Merseyside, Northwest England we will conduct a quasi-experimental ecological study using “before and after” approach to examine changes in gastroenteritis indicators and rotavirus incidence following the introduction of rotavirus vaccination in the UK. Data will be collected on mortality, hospital admissions, healthcare acquired rotavirus, emergency department attendances, general practice consultations and community health consultations to capture all the different providers of health care that people access with symptoms of gastroenteritis. Covering all age groups both the direct and indirect effect of the vaccine on the study population will be assessed. Comparisons of outcome indicator rates will be made between communities with high vaccine uptake and those with lower vaccine uptake and the relationship with deprivation.
Discussion
This study will enable demonstration of a complete health system perspective of the impact of rotavirus vaccination on the burden of disease. It will also enable identification of the key areas that require extended and improved data collection tools to maximise the usefulness of this surveillance approach and provide a template for ecological methodology vaccine evaluations in the UK.REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1140
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion