.
Thus, the findings of the study
suggest that rotavirus vaccine
may reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in
children
, although a
cause-effect relationship cannot be yet established.
"Five years from now, we will know much
more," says Rogers.
"The first groups of children to
receive the rotavirus vaccine in the United States are now in grade school,
when Type 1 diabetes is most often detected. Hopefully, in years to come, we'll have fewer new cases - but based on
our study findings, that depends upon parents bringing in their children to
get vaccinated."
The results of the current study echo the findings of a
similar study in Australia that found a 14% reduction of type 1 diabetes after
the rotavirus vaccine was introduced.
Here's How Rotavirus Vaccine Prevents Type 1 Diabetes
Previous studies have shown that rotavirus attacks the beta
cells in the pancreas which have been shown to be damaged in persons with Type
1 diabetes. Thus, the vaccine might confer a protective effect on the beta cells of
the pancreas that produce insulin.
About Rotavirus Vaccine
- Rotavirus vaccine is given to infants to prevent rotavirus diarrhea which affects babies and can cause severe diarrhea and
vomiting resulting in dehydration or fluid loss
- Babies vaccinated
against rotavirus had a 94% lesser rate of admission to hospital for
rotavirus diarrhea, and a 31% lower rate of hospitalization due to any reason, especially in
the first two months after immunization
- Over 25% of American children don't get fully immunized against
rotavirus, and the rate of
vaccination differs widely across the country, with less than half of
children in New England and Pacific states being fully immunized and
2/3rds of children in the central part of the country having been fully
vaccinated
- According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, infants should be given the multi-dose
vaccine starting before 15 weeks, and complete the full schedule before
they are eight months old. The vaccine is given as oral drops
In summary,
giving the full dose of rotavirus vaccine in infancy might protect against the development
of type 1 diabetes later in life although more studies
and analysis are needed to validate these initial findings.
Reference : - Lower risk of Type 1 diabetes seen in children vaccinated against 'stomach flu' virus - (http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44193-4)
Source: Medindia
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