Journal article
Genotype Diversity before and after the Introduction of a Rotavirus Vaccine into the National Immunisation Program in Fiji
Sarah Thomas, Celeste M Donato, Sokoveti Covea, Felisita T Ratu, Adam WJ Jenney, Rita Reyburn, Aalisha Sahu Khan, Eric Rafai, Varja Grabovac, Fatima Serhan, Julie E Bines, Fiona M Russell
Pathogens | MDPI | Published : 2021
Abstract
The introduction of the rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix, into the Fiji National Immunisation Program in 2012 has reduced the burden of rotavirus disease and hospitalisations in children less than 5 years of age. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of rotavirus genotype diversity from 2005 to 2018; to investigate changes following the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in Fiji. Faecal samples from children less than 5 years with acute diarrhoea between 2005 to 2018 were analysed at the WHO Rotavirus Regional Reference Laboratory at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia, and positive samples were serotyped by EIA (2005-2006) or genotyped by heminested RT-P..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by World Health Organization
Awarded by Merck investigator grant (IISP)
Awarded by Early Career Fellowship
Funding Acknowledgements
The identification, collection, transportation and laboratory analysis of surveillance samples was funded as part of the World Health Organization Rotavirus Regional Surveillance activity. The World Health Organization provided funds to set up the initial rotavirus surveillance (2005-2007) and an additional World Health Organization grant [Registry File No. V27-181-188] for data collected between 2006 and 2013. A Merck investigator grant (IISP ID#:35248) funded the early work in Savusavu (2009-2010). Surveillance data collected between 2014 and 2018 by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government and Fiji Health Sector Support Program (FHSSP). FHSSP is implemented by Abt JTA on behalf of the Australian Government. The Murdoch Children's Research Institute is supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support program. Funders had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, writing of the report. C.M.D. is supported through the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council with an Early Career Fellowship (1113269). F.M.R. is supported through Australian National Health and Medical Research Council with an Early Career Fellowship and Translating into Practice Fellowship.