David Douglas, New York: In 2006, an oral rotavirus vaccine was licensed and recommended for routine immunisation of all children in the United States.

But researchers now report in the journal Pediatrics that this approach might be cost-effective, but it is unlikely to be cost-saving. However, "when compared with other health interventions, rotavirus vaccination can still be considered good value for money," added lead investigator Dr. Marc-Alain Widdowson.

Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of diarrhea among children in the U.S. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. Handwashing after toilet use is a key means of preventing the infection.

"Rotavirus vaccination of all children in the United States," Widdowson told Reuters Health, "will reduce serious gastroenteritis due to rotavirus infection by almost 80 percent."

"At the current manufacturer's price, however, the total cost is over $200 per course. So vaccination is unlikely to save any money for either health systems or society at large interms of less time off work caring for sick children."

Widdowson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues came to this conclusion after a studying a hypothetical group of more than 4 million children.

The researchers compared the projected outcome of unvaccinated children with those vaccinated at 2, 4 and 6 months. The analysis indicated that with vaccination, 13 deaths, 44,000 hospitalisations and 137,000 emergency department visits would be avoided.

Vaccination would cost $ 138 per case prevented, $3,024 perserious case prevented and $197,190 per year of life saved. This would cost the healthcare system $515 million and society $216 million.