Public hospital admissions for children aged five years and under suffering from rotavirus have dropped by 80 per cent in the last 12 years, according to the latest SA Health data released
today.
The Department for Health and Wellbeing's Communicable Disease and Control Branch Director, Dr Louise Flood, said the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in 2007 has had a significant impact in reducing the rate of children needing to be admitted to hospital because of the disease.
"Rotavirus infection is a type of gastroenteritis that causes diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and dehydration and can be fatal if it is left untreated," Dr Flood said.
"Symptoms can last from a few days to a week and people with rotavirus stay infectious for around one week.
"Fortunately, unlike many other strains of viral gastroenteritis, there is a vaccine available which can prevent or reduce the severity of rotavirus in most young children.
"Rotavirus is a common cause of severe diarrhoea in infants and children worldwide and prior to this vaccine, hundreds of children under five years-of-age would need to be hospitalised in SA every year.
"Vaccines are our number one defence against infectious diseases and immunisation is a simple, safe and highly effective way of protecting people from harmful diseases before they come into contact with them."
In the 2019/2020 financial year, 57 children were admitted to hospital with rotavirus compared to 424 in the 2006/2007 financial year.
Dr Flood said most vaccines need to be administered more than once to build long lasting protection and it is important for children to complete the full recommended course or schedule of vaccinations at the recommended times.
"Immunisation not only protects individuals but also vulnerable people in the community who are too young or too unwell to be vaccinated," Dr Flood said.
"When it comes to stopping the spread, vaccines go hand-in-hand with good hygiene practices, and it's important to remember to wash your hands, keep frequently used areas clean and stay home if you are sick."
The rotavirus vaccine is available for free as part of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and is offered to children at six weeks of age and four months of age.
Figure 1: SA Public Hospital Admissions for Children withRotavirus (0 - 5 Years of Age)
