Rotavirus vaccine decreasing infection and hospitalization in Island children

The introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine has significantly reduced the rate of infection and hospitalization due to rotavirus gastrointestinal illness in Island children, says Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison.

“Rotavirus illness causes the majority of childhood gastrointestinal illness (diarrhea and vomiting) which requires hospitalization,” said Dr. Morrison. “Through the addition of the Rotavirus vaccine to our provincial immunization program, Prince Edward Island has seen hospitalization due to Rotavirus gastroenteritis decrease by 97 per cent. Further, there was no Rotavirus season in our province in 2012 in children under five.”

In December 2010, Rotavirus vaccine became available to children of Prince Edward Island who were born on or after October 1, 2010. Health PEI provides this vaccine through Public Health Nursing clinics as part of the routine schedule of immunization. The program was implemented as part of a project initiated by the Canadian Center for Vaccinology at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

“We know that no other health care intervention in the last 50 years has done more to save the lives of babies and children than immunization,” said Dr. Morrison. “The results of the project are an amazing example of the role Public Health plays in our Island Health Care System and the significant cost benefit of childhood immunization programs when delivered properly. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Health PEI staff in Public Health Nursing, Emergency Rooms and Microbiology Labs for the work they have done with this project.”