The 1,000th baby enrolled in the local Rotavirus Vaccine trial getting the vaccine from Research Nurse Coordinator, Hyacinth Smith, at the University of the West Indies' Vaccines Infectious Diseases Centre. - Contributed THE UNIVERSITY of the West Indies' Vaccines Infectious Diseases Centre has already enrolled more than 1,000 babies in the local leg of an international vaccine trial, testing a new vaccine to protect babies against the rotavirus. This virus causes gastroenteritis.
Professor Celia Christie, principal investigator said recently that the international rotavirus vaccine trial has been going very well, with 12 countries participating and over 56,000 total infants enrolled.
Infants born at the University Hospital of the West Indies, who are 6-12 weeks old are eligible to participate in the trial.
The rotavirus germ is the main cause of gastroenteritis in young children. The symptoms of gastroenteritis include severe vomiting and diarrhoea which can lead to severe dehydration and death.
Earlier this year several children died during a gastroenteritis outbreak. It is hope that the new vaccine, when added to the battery of vaccination currently given to children will prevent death from this common, seasonal condition.
Jamaica is one of 12 countries world-wide currently testing the new vaccine in a trial endorsed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Ministry of Health and the UWI/UWHI Ethics Committee. Beside, Professor Christie, members of the research team include Dr. Kirk Thame a gastroenterologist and research nurses Hyacinth Smith, Lavern Malcolm and Jasmine Brown.
