1. Uptake and timeliness of rotavirus vaccination in Norway: The first year post-introduction
- Author
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Elmira Flem, Beatriz Valcarcel Salamanca, and Maria Elisabeth Hagerup-Jenssen
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Rotavirus ,Male ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Coverage ,Vaccination Coverage ,viruses ,Age limit ,medicine.disease_cause ,Rotavirus vaccination ,Rotavirus Infections ,Pneumococcal Vaccines ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,030225 pediatrics ,Immunology and Microbiology(all) ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine ,Immunization Schedule ,Haemophilus Vaccines ,Vaccines, Conjugate ,General Veterinary ,General Immunology and Microbiology ,Tetanus ,business.industry ,Immunization Programs ,Norway ,Diphtheria ,Vaccination ,Rotavirus Vaccines ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Timeliness ,virus diseases ,Infant ,medicine.disease ,Rotavirus vaccine ,veterinary(all) ,Poliomyelitis ,Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated ,Infectious Diseases ,Molecular Medicine ,Female ,business ,Vaccine ,Intussusception - Abstract
Background To minimise vaccine-associated risk of intussusception following rotavirus vaccination, Norway adopted very strict age limits for initiating and completing the vaccine series at the time rotavirus vaccination was included in the national immunisation programme, October 2014. Although Norway has a high coverage for routine childhood vaccines, these stringent age limits could negatively affect rotavirus coverage. We documented the status and impact of rotavirus vaccination on other infant vaccines during the first year after its introduction. Methods We used individual vaccination data from the national immunisation register to calculate coverage for rotavirus and other vaccines and examine adherence with the recommended schedules. We identified factors associated with completing the full rotavirus series by performing multiple logistic regression analyses. We also evaluated potential changes in uptake and timeliness of other routine vaccines after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results The national coverage for rotavirus vaccine achieved a year after the introduction was 89% for one dose and 82% for two doses, respectively. Among fully rotavirus-vaccinated children, 98% received both doses within the upper age limit and 90% received both doses according to the recommended schedule. The child’s age at the initiation of rotavirus series and being vaccinated with diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV/Hib) and pneumococcal vaccines were the strongest predictors of completing the full rotavirus series. No major changes in uptake and timeliness of other paediatric vaccines were observed after introduction of rotavirus vaccine. Conclusions Norway achieved a high national coverage and excellent adherence with the strict age limits for rotavirus vaccine administration during the first year of introduction, indicating robustness of the national immunisation programme. Rotavirus vaccination did not impact coverage or timeliness of other infant vaccines.
- Published
- 2016
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