摘要：Globally, rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in early childhood1 infecting almost all children by five years of age. Rotavirus is estimated to be responsible for more than 600,000 deaths per year in these children with 85% occurring in low-income countries.2 In Australia, an estimated 10,000 hospitalisations and one death occur annually in children under 5 years, mostly in children aged under two years.3 Among those under one year, hospitalisation rates are five times greater in Indigenous Australians compared with non-Indigenous children.4 In addition to hospital admissions, 22,000 emergency department visits attributable to rotavirus are estimated to occur annually.3 Direct medical costs in Australia are estimated at over $30 million.
