# Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage and Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Immunization in a Birth Cohort of Children (2017–2023) in Suzhou, China

## TL;DR

This study examines rotavirus vaccine coverage and safety in children born between 2017 and 2023 in Suzhou, China, finding low vaccination rates and a generally safe profile.

## Contribution

The study provides updated data on rotavirus vaccine coverage trends and adverse event monitoring in Suzhou, China, from 2017 to 2023.

## Key findings

- Only 14.65% of children in the 2017–2023 cohort received the first dose of the rotavirus vaccine.
- The reported incidence of adverse events following immunization was 3.47 per 10,000 doses, indicating a low risk profile.
- Vaccination rates increased in the 2023 cohort, with most doses administered between 6–12 weeks of age.

## Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the changes in the proportion of the rotavirus vaccine among children born in the 2017–2023 cohort and to assess the current status of rotavirus vaccination coverage in Suzhou, China. To monitor adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) so as to provide data for scientific guidance regarding the rotavirus vaccine. Methods: The basic information of children born between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2023 in Suzhou and information regarding rotavirus vaccination were collected through the child module of Jiangsu Province Vaccination Integrated Service Management Information System. Information on AEFI case reports was collected from the AEFI monitoring system of the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the rotavirus vaccine characteristics and AEFI classification, and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparative analysis. Results: The proportion of children born in the 2017–2023 cohort who received the first dose of the rotavirus vaccine was 14.65%. The reassortant rotavirus vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent (RV5) proportion gradually increased, and the vaccine proportion of children in the 2023 birth cohort reached the highest. The peak age for rotavirus vaccination was between 2 and 8 months. A total of 49,507 children (99.88%) received the first dose of RV5 at the age of 6–12 weeks in this birth cohort, and there was a statistically significant difference in the median duration of the first dose of RV5 among children of different age groups (p < 0.001). A total of 89 cases of AEFIs were reported, and the reported incidence of AEFIs was 3.47/10,000 doses. Among them, 86 cases of general reactions were reported, with a reported incidence of 3.35/10,000 doses, and three cases of abnormal reactions were reported, with a reported incidence of 0.12/10,000 doses. Conclusions: The rotavirus vaccine proportion of children born in Suzhou from 2017 to 2023 was not high. The incidence of AEFI reports from the rotavirus vaccine is relatively low, indicating a favorable safety profile. Efforts should prioritize strengthening health education on rotavirus gastroenteritis to enhance public confidence in vaccination, thereby ensuring the effective prevention and control of rotavirus gastroenteritis.