A population based study comparing changes in rotavirus burden on the Island of Ireland between a highly vaccinated population and an unvaccinated population.

•Ecological study of impact of rotavirus vaccine on the Island of Ireland.•Rotavirus vaccine was introduced in Northern Ireland only.•Ireland was in effect an unvaccinated control population.•Significant reduction in rotavirus burden in NI, with concurrent increase in Ireland.•Reduction in rotavirus burden is likely to be attributable to the rotavirus vaccine.