Continued Evidence of the Impact of Rotavirus Vaccine in Children Less Than 3 Years of Age From the United States New Vaccine Surveillance Network: A Multisite Active Surveillance Program, 2006-2016

Background: Since 2006, the New Vaccine Surveillance Network has conducted active, population-based surveillance for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits in 3 United States counties. Trends in the epidemiology and disease burden of rotavirus hospitalizations and ED visits were examined from 2006 to 2016.

Methods: Children < 3 years of age hospitalized or visiting the ED with AGE were enrolled from January 2006 through June 2016. Bulk stool specimens were collected and tested for rotavirus. Rotavirus-associated hospitalization and ED visit rates were calculated annually with 2006-2007 defined as the prevaccine period and 2008-2016 as the postvaccine period. Rotavirus genotype trends were compared over time.

Results: Over 11 seasons, 6954 children with AGE were enrolled and submitted a stool specimen (2187 hospitalized and 4767 in the ED). Comparing pre- and postvaccine periods, the proportion of children with rotavirus dramatically declined for hospitalization (49% vs 10%) and ED visits (49% vs 8%). In the postvaccine era, a biennial pattern of rotavirus rates was observed, with a trend toward an older median age. G1P[8] (63%) was the predominant genotype in the prevaccine period with a significantly lower proportion (7%) in the postvaccine period (P < .001). G2P[4] remained stable (8% to 14%) in both periods, whereas G3P[8] and G12P[8] increased in proportion from pre- to postvaccine periods (1% to 25% and 17% to 40%), respectively.

Conclusions: The epidemiology and disease burden of rotavirus has been altered by rotavirus vaccination with a biennial disease pattern, sustained low rates of rotavirus in children < 3 years of age, and a shift in the residual genotypes from G1P[8] to other genotypes.