The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) recently participated in the Zambia Health Research Conference, where researchers, health professionals, and policymakers shared research, best practices, and innovations to enhance public health and support socio-economic development.

Natasha Makabilo Laban, a Research Fellow at CIDRZ, presented her research findings on the safety and immunogenicity of administering a third dose of the ROTARIX oral rotavirus vaccine to Zambian children at nine months of age.

The randomised controlled trial aimed to determine whether this booster dose could enhance anti-rotavirus immunity by 12 months.

The findings indicated that while administering a third dose of ROTARIX at nine months is safe for infants, it did not significantly increase rotavirus antibody responses by 12 months in the study population.

The research suggests that alternative strategies for oral rotavirus vaccination may be needed to improve the immunogenicity of these vaccines in Zambian children.

ROTARIX is a viral vaccine that helps to protect children against gastro-enteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting) caused by rotavirus infection.

This study is part of the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) programme, which is supported by the European Union (grant number TMA2016SF-1511-ROVAS-2).