Why in news?
A multi‑centre study published in late 2025 assessed the real‑world impact of India’s indigenous rotavirus vaccine, Rotavac, on diarrhoeal disease. Researchers collected data from hospitals across several states and found that introducing Rotavac into the national immunisation programme significantly reduced hospitalisations for severe rotavirus gastroenteritis among children under five.
Background
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea in infants and young children. Before vaccine introduction, it caused hundreds of thousands of hospitalisations and thousands of deaths each year in India. Rotavirus spreads through the faeco‑oral route; symptoms include vomiting, watery diarrhoea and dehydration.
- Rotavac: Developed through a public–private partnership led by Indian vaccine company Bharat Biotech and the Department of Biotechnology, Rotavac was licensed in 2014 and rolled out nationally in 2016. It is given in three oral doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age.
- Effectiveness: Clinical trials had shown that Rotavac prevents around half of moderate‑to‑severe rotavirus infections. The new observational study compared hospital admissions before and after vaccine introduction. Researchers found a large decline in rotavirus‑positive stool samples and estimated vaccine effectiveness at roughly 54–57 per cent.
- Public health impact: Beyond direct protection, vaccinating infants reduces virus circulation and protects unvaccinated children through herd immunity. It also lessens healthcare costs and parents’ loss of wages.
Managing gastroenteritis
While vaccines are crucial, preventing diarrhoeal disease also requires safe drinking water, sanitation, hand‑washing and good nutrition. For children who do develop diarrhoea:
- Early use of oral rehydration solutions and zinc tablets prevents dehydration and reduces the duration of illness.
- Continuing breastfeeding and offering food helps maintain nutrition and strength.
- Parents should seek medical care if a child shows persistent vomiting, bloody stools or signs of severe dehydration.
India’s experience with Rotavac illustrates how locally developed vaccines can save lives and contribute to global disease control.
Source: Nature Medicine