Prospects for rotavirus vaccine introduction in the Philippines: Bridging the available evidence into immunization policy

ABSTRACTRotavirus (RV) diarrhea is one of the most common cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in the world. The World Health Organization has recommended RV vaccines’ use in national immunization programs since 2009. However, access to vaccines remain limited, particularly for most low- and middle-income countries where the burden of the disease is high. The Philippines is a lower-middle income country in Asia where RV vaccination remains limited. Recent studies in the Philippines indicate an estimated vaccine effectiveness of 60% against RV hospitalization, and a 50–60% reduction of all cause diarrhea among children aged under 5 within the population. Furthermore, we estimate that 225 rotavirus cases can be prevented per 1000 children vaccinated against RV. This information will be crucial as policymakers decide on expanding RV vaccination nationwide.