Most of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa, where one of the biggest problems is keeping the vaccines cold enough during transit and storage. A new oral rotavirus vaccine, known as BRV-PV, doesn’t require refrigeration, and a new phase III study just found it can protect against severe gastroenteritis in two thirds of children who receive it. Approximately 2 out of 100 vaccinated children would develop severe rotavirus each year compared to 6 of 100 unvaccinated children. The estimated cost of the vaccine is less than $2.50 a dose, lower than the cost of the two existing rotavirus vaccines that require refrigeration. Meanwhile, 87 of the 1,728 children who received a placebo developed severe rotavirus.

Source: Forbes March 23, 2017 10:18 UTC