Implementation of rotavirus vaccines has substantially reduced diarrhea-associated health care utilization in US children aged <5 years, a recent retrospective cohort study found. Using claims data of US children aged <5 years, researchers compared rates of diarrhea-associated health care utilization in pre-vaccine vs post-vaccine introduction years. They also examined vaccine effectiveness (VE) and duration of protection. They found:

• Compared with the average rate of rotavirus-coded hospitalizations in the pre-vaccine years, overall vaccine rates were reduced by 75% in 2007–2008, 60% in 2008–2009, 94% in 2009–2010, 80% in 2010–2011, 97% in 2011–2012, 88% in 2012–2013, 98% in 2013–2014 and 92% in 2014-2015.
• Rotavirus vaccine, pentavalent (RV5) adjusted VE was 88% against rotavirus-coded hospitalization among 3 to 11 months of age, 88% in 12 to 23 months of age, 87% in 24 to 35 months of age, 87% in 36 to 47 months of age, and 87% in 48 to 59 months of age.
• Rotavirus vaccine, monovalent (RV1) adjusted VE was 87% against rotavirus-coded hospitalization among 3 to 11 months of age, 86% in 12 to 23 months of age, and 86% in 24 to 35 months of age.