Uptake of rotavirus vaccine among US infants at Immunization Information System Sentinel Sites.

OBJECTIVE: Coverage with rotavirus vaccine among US children has been lower compared to that with other routine childhood vaccines. Our objectives were to examine rotavirus vaccine (RV) uptake over time compared to other routine vaccinations, ages at administration, and quantitate potential missed opportunities for RV receipt.

METHODS: We analyzed data from 6 Immunization Information System (IIS) Sentinel Sites, which represent approximately 10% of the United States (US) pediatric population. Among infants aged 5months, we compared uptake of ⩾1 dose of RV, to that of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis (DTaP) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), for each quarter during 2006-2013. We used data from infants in the 2012 birth cohort to examine RV receipt in more detail.

RESULTS: Among infants aged 5months, the average site coverage with ⩾1 dose of RV reached 78% in 2010 and subsequently stayed steady at 79-81% through 2013. The average difference between ⩾1 dose DTaP coverage and RV coverage remained between about 6 and 8 percentage points during mid-2012 through 2013. Infants born in 2012 received RV doses closely in line with the timing recommended by the ACIP. Approximately one-third of the difference in coverage between ⩾1 dose of DTaP and ⩾1 dose of RV among infants could be due to the maximum age restriction of the first RV dose. The other two-thirds of the difference appears to have been a result of potential missed opportunities for starting the RV series--these infants received another routine immunization when age eligible to receive RV dose 1, but did not receive RV.

CONCLUSION: Uptake with RV during infancy remains below that of other routine vaccines. Understanding the barriers to administration of RV among age-eligible infants could help improve vaccine coverage.