Gastroenteritis which is caused by Rotavirus kills about 1300 children in sub-Saharan Africa daily, but this is about to change. Compared to the existing vaccines, which are costly and require refrigeration, the new rotavirus vaccine – BRV-PV is heat proof and can stay for up to six months at 40C.

Dr Micaela Serafini, Medical Director, Medecin San Frontiers (MSF) described the drug as a ‘game changer’. “We believe that the new vaccine can bring protection against rotavirus to the children who need it most,” she said.

The second largest cause of death of children and infants in the world especially in low-income countries is Diarrhoea, due to poor sanitation and bad drinking water. According to the WHO, more than 500,000 children die each year from dehydration and complications of rotavirus, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

The vaccine has proven to be as effective as those presently used to treat severe gastroenteritis. According to the results published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 4000 children have been successfully treated by the trials in Niger.

“This trial brings a vaccine which is adapted to African settings to those who need it most,” said Sheila Isanaka, Assistant Professor of Nutrition at Harvard University and co-author of the study in the New England Journal of Medicine. “When the vaccine becomes widely available in Africa, it will help protect millions of the most vulnerable children.”

The trials were conducted by MSF’s research and epidemiology branch Epicentre, in collaboration with Niger’s ministry of health and other international organisations. The result of the trials according to MSF, demonstrated no safety concerns and as a result the vaccine could help to fill the current supply gaps of the existing rotavirus vaccines.

The new rotavirus vaccine which is manufactured and licensed in India, needs final aproval form the World Health Organisation before it can be used worldwide.