Rotavirus, Vaccine and Unanswered Questions: A Perspective from a Least Developed Country

Abstract

Two rotavirus vaccines, RotaTeq (Merck) and Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline) have been developed to neutralize the most common rotavirus serotypes, and are now available in the global market. These vaccines are primarily aimed at reducing rotavirus gastroenteritis in children in the least developed countries, where rotavirus mortality rate is believed to be greatest. Thus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended rotavirus vaccination be included in all national immunization programs, while the least developed countries have so far not come up with clear vision and long term strategy on vaccine implementation, and several questions, in addition to this, remain unanswered. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: least developed country; rotavirus; vaccines.