In countries like India, rotavirus is a death sentence, where a child dies of rotavirus every 10 minutes, and where more than 78,000 deaths, 8,00,000 hospitalisations and three million outpatient visits are due to rotavirus. So much so, soon after taking charge, prime minister Narendra Modi proclaimed that rotavirus vaccine will be provided to every child in India.
On Wednesday, it was disclosed at the 11th International Retrovirus Symposium that a new vaccine, which will be introduced in India, can reduce severe diarrhoea caused by rotavirus by 56% during the first year of life.
Addressing the symposium, health minister Dr Harshvardhan said introduction of rotavirus vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) was a pro-people decision which has the potential to drastically reduce infant mortality, particularly among the poorest sections of society.
"By including it under UIP along with Japanese Encephalitis, Rubella and Polio, the government has sent a sharp signal to its commitment to the aam aadmi," he said. "We are losing 52 children per 1000 live births every year. On top of that rotavirus diarrhoea snatches at least 1 lakh."
Beginning 2015, the rotavirus vaccine will be introduced as an additional dose along with the first, second and third doses of DPT in UIP. An expert committee will be established to assess progress in a few states and union territories on the basis of disease burden and vaccine availability.
"We cannot reduce death and suffering from rotavirus, as well as its significant economic toll, without vaccines." said Dr Mathuram Santhosham of Johns Hoplkins University, Baltimore. "Greater prioritisation of rotavirus vaccines will protect children and...India, which has a heavy rotavirus burden but is home to a promising new vaccine, is the perfect setting to evaluate current scientific evidence on rotavirus vaccines to inform decision-making."
"Every child deserves the chance to live a long, healthy, productive life... When rotavirus vaccines are part of a comprehensive strategy including oral rehydration solution, breastfeeding, good nutrition, improved water, sanitation and hygiene, we can make this a vision and reality," Dr Gangandeep Kang, head of Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Christian Medical College, Vellore.
"Meeting the millennium development goals is an end in itself. We have launched a systematic study to make the public healthcare system user-friendly and accountable.
Doctors have been told to work ahead of deadlines," Dr Harshvardhan said.
He lauded the efforts of the scientific community, saying that the Modi government did not take decisions arbitrarily "on the basis of populism", but relies only on evidence.
"Anything that is decided by the scientific community as good for protection of the lives of mothers and children will be dovetailed into public health policy," the health minister said.
Rotavirus spreads easily from person-to-person and can survive on hands and surfaces for long periods
It accounts for 40% of diarrhoea hospitalisations in children under 5 in India
It is responsible for the deaths of over 50,000 Indian children annually
It caused 8,70,000 hospitalisations, 3 million outpatient visits and 11 million diarrhoea episodes in children under age 5
Hospitalisations and outpatient visits cost India approximately Rs 4.9 billion and Rs 5.38 billion each year, more than the estimated Rs 4.47 billion it would cost to fund a rotavirus immunisation programme
A single hospitalisation for rotavirus diarrhoea costs families between Rs2,000 and Rs 8,400
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