In the developing world, where treatment can be hard to access and safe water is scarce, diarrhea can be deadly. Prevention of diarrheal disease through immunization is a relatively new intervention, but is becoming an essential and lifesaving part of diarrhea control strategies. Vaccines against bacterial causes of diarrhea such as Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are under development, and new vaccines against rotavirus are increasingly available in low-resource settings.

PATH is working with partners to increase access to existing rotavirus vaccines, develop new rotavirus vaccines, and accelerate the development of other new vaccines against causes of diarrhea. To learn more, please visit the PATH website.

UNICEF is the world’s leading agency for vaccine procurement and procures vaccines and immunization supplies on behalf of the GAVI Alliance, which provides subsidized funding for rotavirus vaccine introduction in eligible countries.

 

Infant receiving rotavirus immunization.

Immunization programs to prevent rotavirus, the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis, are increasing worldwide thanks to new safe and effective vaccines.

 

 Children in the world's poorest countries account for more than 90 percent of rotavirus deaths.

 

Key resources

Below are some key documents on diarrhea vaccines. Please also visit our partners’ websites for more resources.

Other helpful websites

References

1 Parashar U, Hummelman EG, Bresee JS, Miller MA, Glass RI. Global illness and deaths caused by rotavirus disease in children. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2003;9(5):565-572.

Photo: PATH/Mike Wang.