Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in preventing hospitalization due to rotavirus gastroenteritis in young children in Connecticut, USA

Rotavirus vaccine was recommended for use in US infants to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis (RGE) in February 2006. This matched case control study assessed the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in preventing hospitalization of young. Cases were vaccine-eligible children 8 weeks-3 years of age, hospitalized due to laboratory-confirmed RGE. Cases (n = 42) were matched to 2 control groups: (a) hospitalized controls (n = 80): children hospitalized for reasons other than RGE, matched to the cases by age and time of presentation and (b) community controls (n = 73): non-hospitalized children matched by age and medical practice. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization with RGE in vaccine eligible children receiving at least one dose of vaccine was 94.3% (95% C.I.: 55.4%–99.3%; p = 0.006) for hospitalized controls and 96.9% (95% C.I.: 59.4%–99.8%; p = 0.008) for community controls.