Rotavirus vaccination coverage and adherence to recommended age among infants in Flanders (Belgium) in 2012

Abstract

In Belgium, rotavirus vaccination has been recommended and partially reimbursed since October 2006. Through a retrospective survey in 2012, we estimated the coverage rate of the rotavirus vaccination in Flanders among infants born in 2010. Using a standardised questionnaire, 874 families were interviewed at home, collecting information on demographic characteristics, socio-economic background and documented vaccination history (updated from medical files and vaccination database, if needed). Adherence to the recommended age for vaccination (8, 12 and 16 weeks) was also assessed. The coverage rate for two doses of rotavirus vaccination was 92.2% (95% confidence interval: 90.2-93.8). Respectively 31.7% and 10.1% of the children received their first and second dose at the recommended age. Incomplete vaccination was often a deliberate choice of the parents. Only eight children (1%) were vaccinated after the maximum age of 26 weeks. Factors identified by multiple logistic regression as related to incomplete vaccination were: living in the province of Antwerp, unemployed mother, and three or more older siblings in the household. Four years after introduction, the coverage rates were surprisingly high for a vaccine that is not fully reimbursed and not readily available in the vaccinator's fridge, which is the case for the other recommended infant vaccines.

Incidence of Rotavirus Infection among Under-Five Children Attending Health Centres in Selected Communities of Ndola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia

“…The study results revealed slightly lower percentage as compared to target statistics by Ndola District Health Management Office [15] obtained on uptake coverage of 85%. In addition, the study results were also lower as compared to study conducted by [10] in Anglia and Essex which revealed 90% -92% coverage and study of [11] in Flanders, Belgium which was at 92.2% as well as the earlier study [12] in Congo which revealed 99% uptake of rotavirus vaccine among under-five children.…”

“…Other studies conducted by Braeckman [11] in Flanders, Belgium revealed uptake of rotavirus vaccine among under-five children to be at 92.2% where as those of Merten [12] in Congo revealed 99%.…”

Improvement in hospital Quality of Care (QoC) after the introduction of rotavirus vaccination: An evaluation study in Belgium

“…22 This high vaccine uptake is maintained throughout subsequent years where parents are asked for a co-payment of the vaccine of 11.6€ per dose. 23 We have previously investigated the change in winter pediatric hospitalizations from before to after the introduction of rotavirus vaccination. 22 By reducing the seasonal influx of urgent RVGE cases into pediatric hospitals, the vaccine could help to reduce the winter pressure on healthcare resources and staff, offering potential wider benefits beyond reduced healthcare costs and quality-of-life gains in improving hospital quality of care (QoC).…”

Epidemiological trends for hospital admissions for acute rotavirus gastroenteritis in Belgium following the introduction of routine rotavirus vaccination and the subsequent switch from lyophilized to liquid formulation of Rotarix™

“…These data also provide some insight into the extent to which the two different RV vaccine brands are used, and show that Rotarix has consistently continued to achieve the large majority of the RV vaccine market share in Belgium since it began to be routinely used in 2006. While routine national RV vaccine coverage data for Belgium are not yet available, RV vaccine coverage was estimated to be 92·2% (95% CI 90·2–93·8) in 2012 in a study conducted in the Flemish region alone [14]. In 2010 the Flemish region was estimated to contain ~58% of the total Belgian population [13] and the RV vaccine coverage estimate reflects the conclusions for RV vaccine uptake drawn from this analysis using IMS health sales data.…”