This study is part of a program of ongoing surveillance of licensed vaccines.
The main objectives of the RAGS study are:
- To assess the effectiveness of Rotavirus vaccine (given to babies as part of the routine immunization schedule). This is done by looking at children with gastroenteritis symptoms in the Princess Margaret Hospital emergency department and those who are admitted to hospital.
- To determine the impact the Rotavirus vaccine has on Rotavirus strains circulating in the community.
We are recruiting children up to 5 years of age who have had at least 3 diarrhoea episodes within a 24 hour period.
We collect samples when the child is in hospital and then contact the parents to inform of them of the results as well as asking them when their child's diarrhoea and vomiting stopped.
RAGS is a five year study. We aim to recruit 1000 subjects averaging 200 recruits per year.