The purpose of this study is to assess vaccine effectiveness of Rotarix in preventing rotavirus severe gastroenteritis among hospitalized infants, in Belgium.

Inclusion Criteria:

For confirmed cases:

• A male or female child born after 01 October 2006 and at least 14 weeks of age at the time of hospital admission.
• Child admitted at the study hospital for SGE during the study period.
• Onset of SGE ≤ 14 days prior to admission.
• Written informed consent obtained and signed from the parent or guardian of the child.
• Stool samples collected during the first 48 hours of hospitalisation and then tested positive for RV by PCR.

For controls:

• A male or female child born after 01 October 2006 and at least 14 weeks of age at the time of the hospital admission or visit to the hospital outpatient clinic.
• Hospitalised or visiting the hospital outpatient clinic for non-GE causes at the same hospital during the same time-period, as the probable case.
• Born within ±2 weeks from the date of birth of the case. If the list of children born within ±2 weeks is exhausted, then the range will be extended to ±4 weeks. In case a suitable control is not found even then, the range will be extended to ±6 weeks.
• Written informed consent obtained and signed from the parent or guardian of the child.

Exclusion Criteria:

For cases:

• Child has previously participated as a case or a control in this study, either in the same hospital or in another study hospital.
• Onset of SGE >48 hours after admission to the hospital (nosocomial infections).
• Child with a condition where rotavirus vaccination would be contraindicated.

For controls:

• Child has participated in the past as a case or control in this study, either in the same hospital or in another study hospital.
• Child who has symptoms of GE/ SGE during current hospital stay/ visit to the hospital outpatient clinic or on the day of interview of his/her parent or guardian.
• Child with a condition where rotavirus vaccination would be contraindicated.

The confirmed cases are children born after 01 October 2006, at least 14 weeks of age, hospitalized for SGE during the designated study period and whose stool samples have been tested positive for RV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The controls are those children hospitalised or visiting the hospital outpatient clinic for non-GE causes at the study hospitals during the same time-period as the case and will be included after matching by age.

IPD is available via the Clinical Study Data Request site (click on the link provided below)

IPD is available via the Clinical Study Data Request site (click on the link provided below)

Access is provided after a research proposal is submitted and has received approval from the Independent Review Panel and after a Data Sharing Agreement is in place. Access is provided for an initial period of 12 months but an extension can be granted, when justified, for up to another 12 months.