The call to include the rotavirus vaccine in the national immunisation programme should be taken up only after careful consideration (Editorial, April 7). The rotavirus vaccine has a history of being withdrawn multiple times after approval by the U.S. FDA. Also, earlier diarrhoeal outbreaks have been associated with mutations in the rotavirus genome and sewage-contaminated water supply. These factors are not addressed by a vaccine response to the public health issue of diarrhoea.
Naveen I. Thomas,
Bangalore
