WHO has recommended that a vaccine which can prevent a diarrhoea-causing virus should be included in national immunisation programmes worldwide.

Rotavirus causes more than 500,000 deaths and two million hospitalisations a year among children. Over 85 per cent of deaths occur in African and Asian developing countries. Experts say that death from rotavirus is most common where there is no quick access to medical care, so vaccination is the most effective way to prevent severe cases and deaths. Nevertheless, the vaccine must be part of a strategy which includes improving water quality, hygiene and sanitation and providing oral rehydration solution and zinc supplements, WHO says in its communiqué [1].

Now governments will have to prepare investment plans for including rotavirus vaccine in their immunisation programmes. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) [1] wants to make immunisation programmes more sustainable and encourages countries to obtain some vaccines with non-GAVI funds as to gradually increase their share of vaccines’ cost. In November 2009 the GAVI Alliance board will probably decide whether all 72 GAVI-eligible countries will now be able to apply for funding to include the rotavirus vaccine in their programmes.

[1] WHO, Global use of rotavirus vaccines recommended, 05 Jun 2009

Related web sites: Wikipedia - Rotavirus ; GAVI Alliance ; WHO - Rotavirus

Related news:

• Health impact: estimating the effects of poor reliability of drinking water interventions in developing countries, Source Weekly, 4 Jun 2009
• Cholera: vaccination or improved sanitation?, Source Weekly, 29 May 2009

Source:IRIN, 09 Jun 2009 ; BBC, WHO backs anti-diarrhoea vaccine, 05 Jun 2009

Tags: water-related diseases