National rotavirus vaccination programme implementation and gastroenteritis presentations: the paediatric emergency medicine perspective

Background Throughout the developed world, the introduction of rotavirus vaccination has led to reductions in the incidence and severity of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in young children and consequently to reductions in paediatric emergency department (PED) attendances with AGE. Rotavirus vaccination was added to the Irish National Immunisation Schedule in November 2016. Aims To assess the impact of vaccine introduction on citywide PED attendances and hospital admissions with all-cause AGE during rotavirus season. Methods In an observational study, a retrospective search was performed of electronic records in three independent PEDs in Dublin. Weekly presentations and admissions with AGE in the first 30 weeks (gastroenteritis season) of the years 2012–2018 were counted and stratified by age. Results Median weekly presentations in 2017–2018, 126 (interquartile range (IQR) 103–165) were significantly lower than in 2012–2016, 160 (IQR 128–214) ( p < 0.001). A reduction in presentations was seen across the three hospitals and in those aged less than 5 years. In one PED, median admissions in 2017–2018 were 10 (IQR 7–13) in comparison with nine (IQR 7–13) in 2012–2016, ( p = 0.463). The emergency department AGE presentations to hospital ward admission rate was 6.7:1. Conclusion A reduction in PED presentations with AGE is demonstrated post-rotavirus vaccine introduction into the Irish National Immunisation Schedule. No significant change in paediatric hospital admissions was demonstrated.