For countries such as India, continued engagement from governmental agencies is necessary to generate and to effectively use evidence for public health decision-making. The Rotavac development effort is one that can and should be emulated for other vaccines and by other vaccine manufacturers. The government support and endorsement, national partnerships, international collaboration and trust, all brought value that should not be underestimated in this effort to develop a vaccine for India and the world. “
“With concerted effort toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) there are now

14,000 fewer child deaths each day across the world as compared to 1990 [1] and [2]. Improvements in oral rehydration solution (ORS) use and access to healthcare have contributed to impressive gains in diarrheal mortality [3]. Decline in pneumonia Alisertib nmr and diarrheal mortality have been instrumental in global decline of under five mortality from 88 to 56 per 1000 live births by contributing over 40% of this decline [4] and [5]. Notwithstanding the gains achieved in the past decade, over 700,000 children die each year of preventable diarrheal diseases in the developing world [2]. Developing countries such as India, where much of the gains in mortality reduction

of the past decade have accrued, lack direct estimates http://www.selleckchem.com/products/SP600125.html of the extent, distribution and determinants of this decline resulting in uncertainty regarding disease specific estimates required for prioritizing public health strategies. Acute gastroenteritis remains a leading cause of post-neonatal under-five mortality in India contributing about 13% of under-five mortality [5] and [6]. Rotavirus is the most important cause for severe gastroenteritis in this age group [2], [7] and [8]. Studies in the last decade estimate the annual mortality due to rotavirus

in India to be between 90,000 and 153,000 [4], [9] and [10]. Debates on the public health utility of rotavirus specific interventions whatever are, in part, fueled by the heterogeneity of mortality estimates and lack of data on the extent of morbidity associated with the disease. Morbidity, an important component of overall disease burden in developing countries, is under-recognized especially in high mortality settings where morbidity data is not readily available. Even where morbidity data is available, they underestimate true healthcare need, as socio-economic conditions, out of pocket spending and limited health infrastructure are overwhelming determinants of health access [11]. In situations with the highest burden of disease, health information and laboratory systems are inadequately equipped to detect and record etiology specific information.