Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage in a Birth Cohort - China, 2019-2023.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Rotavirus causes severe acute gastroenteritis and diarrhea-related mortality in children aged <5 years. Vaccination is an effective preventive strategy; however, no nationwide data on rotavirus vaccine coverage are available.

WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: Based on data from the National Immunization Program Information System, despite the upward trend, rotavirus vaccine coverage among children born between 2019 and 2023 in China remained low, with suboptimal series completion. Disparities by socioeconomic region and clinic density were observed for non-National Immunization Program (non-program) childhood vaccines.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?: Improving follow-up for children with missed rotavirus vaccine doses, optimizing the distribution and accessibility of vaccination clinics, and exploring non-program-funded financing mechanisms for vaccination may improve rotavirus vaccine uptake.