The WG was established in December 2004, just before Merck applied for a biologics

license from the FDA for their vaccine, RotaTeq®, in April 2005. Shortly after the FDA approved the license on 3 February 2006, ACIP voted on the vaccine on 21 February 2006. On 11 August 2006 the MMWR published a statement entitled Prevention of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis among Infants and Children, which constituted formal approval of the vaccine and its inclusion in the vaccination schedule [10]. Beginning in June 2007, the WG expanded it focus to include consideration of a new rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix® (Glaxo-Smith-Kline), which was ultimately licensed by FDA in April 2008. From June 2007 until February 2009, the WG met at least once monthly, and often bi-monthly in preparation for data presentations at ACIP meetings. The WG, comprising 25 members, included CDC subject matter experts; immunization safety experts; ACIP Vandetanib cost members, ex officio members and liaison Tanespimycin molecular weight representatives, and invited academic consultants. At every ACIP meeting from June 2007 until June 2008 (four meetings), the WG presented information on efficacy and safety of Rotarix®, RotaTeq® vaccine coverage and adherence with age recommendations, draft proposed recommendations for use of Rotarix®, post-licensure safety monitoring of RotaTeq®, and final recommendations for use

of Rotarix® following licensure by FDA. The ACIP voted in June 2008 to add Rotarix® to the routine infant immunization schedule, and provided guidance on use of Rotarix® vs. RotaTeq®, since there were now two licensed vaccines on the market. The WG finalized the full ACIP statement, which was published in the MMWR in February 2009 [11]. The WG has been disbanded for now, but CDC program staff continue to monitor rotavirus vaccine coverage rates, rotavirus disease rates, vaccine coverage, and vaccine safety. The WG can be reassembled at any time, if necessary. For all newly licensed and recommended vaccines, ACIP members are briefed during meetings on changes in disease epidemiology that occur following

introduction of a vaccine, and this has been the case with rotavirus vaccines. At meetings following the 2006 and 2009 recommendations for the use of RotaTeq® and Rotarix®, ACIP members were informed also about the reduction in rotavirus disease burden in the US from 2000 through 2009—the 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 rotavirus seasons were shorter, later, and characterized by substantially fewer positive rotavirus test results reported to the national surveillance system compared to the pre-vaccine era (overall number of positive test results decreased by 64% from 2000–2006 to 2007–2008) [12] and [13]. With presentations on the surveillance and epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases following changes in national immunization policy, the ACIP is kept informed about the impact of vaccination on the target population.