Merck’s rotavirus vaccine makes big impact

A new report by the CDC concludes that Merck's new rotavirus vaccine has made a major impact on the disease in the last two years. RotaTeq, designed to prevent diarrhea and vomiting in children, has pushed the start of the rotavirus season back by three months and reduced the severity of the season by half. Incidences of the disease plunged soon after the vaccine was approved and swiftly hit their lowest level since figures were first gathered 15 years ago. Rotavirus is highly contagious and has been blamed for 272,000 ER visits in the U.S. each year.

- read the report in the Philadelphia Inquirer

Related Articles:
FDA approves Merck's rotavirus vaccine
Vaccine may be linked to bowel problems in children