Potential impact of accelerating the primary dose of rotavirus vaccine in infants

We estimated the potential impact of administering the first dose of rotavirus vaccine at 6 weeks (42 days of life) instead of 2 months of age, which is permissible for all U.S. vaccines recommended at 2 months of age, on rotavirus hospitalization rates. We used published data for hospitalization rates, vaccine coverage, and vaccine efficacy after one dose and assumed a two-week delay in seroconversion after vaccine administration in the United States. Administering the first dose of rotavirus vaccine at 6 weeks instead of 8 weeks of age should have prevented 1110, 1660, and 2210 rotavirus hospitalizations among U.S. infants <3 months of age in 2006 when the vaccine was first introduced. This estimated benefit represents a 2–4% reduction in rotavirus hospitalizations among children <5 years of age.

► Rotavirus vaccine can be administered at 6 weeks instead of 2 months of age. ► Administering this vaccine 2 weeks earlier should reduce rotavirus hospitalizations. ► The estimated benefit is 2–4% fewer pediatric rotavirus hospitalizations.