Nigeria Introduces Bharat Biotech’s Rotavac Vaccine For Immunisation In Children

Nigeria currently accounts for 14 per cent of rotavirus deaths globally, making it the country with the second-highest number of rotavirus deaths in the world

Representative image of a nurse administering vaccine to a child.

Source : AFP file

Hyderabad: Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) on Wednesday announced that its rotavirus oral vaccine -- Rotavac -- has been introduced by Nigeria to immunise its children from the life-threatening diarrhoeal disease that affects millions of children worldwide.

Nigeria currently accounts for 14 per cent of rotavirus deaths globally, making it the country with the second-highest number of rotavirus deaths in the world. Rotavirus infection causes about 50,000 child fatalities under the age of five every year in Nigeria.

In its tweet, Bharat Biotech announced, "Rotavac was introduced into the national immunization program in Nigeria."

Rotavac was introduced into the national immunization program in Nigeria today.

This is a great milestone for team Bharat Biotech, where decades of innovation have resulted in a safe and efficacious product that will save thousands of lives worldwide.#NarendraModi #PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/jTFMadpIkv

— BharatBiotech (@BharatBiotech) August 22, 2022

Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech said, "Decades of research and product development have resulted in Rotavac. This vaccine is now available in several countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. We are proud to state that novel vaccines from India are saving lives worldwide."

We are committed to supporting, and reducing the infectious disease burden amongst children in the developing world, and to ensure nations like Nigeria in the African continent, have access to cost-effective world-class interventions for infants and vulnerable populations. Rotavac is safe and effective at preventing diarrheal disease caused by the Rotavirus."

"Bharat Biotech will continue to play its role in researching, developing, and manufacturing novel vaccines, to lower the morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases and contribute towards the achievement of universal vaccine access," the Bharat Biotech MD added.

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of diarrheal disease in the world and is responsible for over 40 per cent of diarrhoea in children. It accounts for about 2,15,000 of the 5,25,000-under-5 mortality worldwide each year that are attributed to diarrheal diseases, making it the most common cause of severe diarrhoea.

Rotavac received WHO-Prequalification in January 2018. Bharat Biotech developed the first generation, rotavirus vaccine, Rotavac. Bharat Biotech is a global leader in rotavirus vaccines, with one of the largest manufacturing capacities.