Rotavirus vaccine correlates with 33% reduced risk of Type 1 diabetes in kids

[Mr. Bill]

Scientific Reports, 6/13/19: Lower Incidence Rate of Type 1 Diabetes after Receipt of the Rotavirus Vaccine in the United States, 2001–2017

We evaluated whether rotavirus vaccination is associated with the incidence of type 1 diabetes among children. We designed a cohort study of 1,474,535 infants in the United States from 2001–2017, using data from a nationwide health insurer. There was a 33% reduction in the risk of type 1 diabetes with completion of the rotavirus vaccine series compared to the unvaccinated (95% CI: 17%, 46%). Completion of the pentavalent vaccine series was associated with 37% lower risk of type 1 diabetes (95% CI: 22%, 50%). Partial vaccination (incompletion of the series) was not associated with the incidence of type 1 diabetes. ...

The press release has a plain-English description:
Lower risk of Type 1 diabetes seen in children vaccinated against 'stomach flu' virus

Vaccinating babies against a virus that causes childhood "stomach flu" greatly reduces their chance of getting so sick that they need hospital care, a new study shows.

But the study also reveals a surprise: Getting fully vaccinated against rotavirus in the first months of life is associated with a lower risk of developing Type 1 diabetes later on.

As a group, children who received all recommended doses of rotavirus vaccine had a 33 percent lower risk than unvaccinated children of getting diagnosed with type 1 diabetes - a lifelong disease with no known prevention strategies or cure.  ...

The study provides strong post-market evidence that the vaccine works. Children vaccinated against rotavirus had a 94 percent lower rate of hospitalization for rotavirus infection, and a 31 percent lower rate of hospitalization for any reason, in the first two months after vaccination. ...

The paper's authors, led by epidemiologist Mary A.M. Rogers, Ph.D., caution that they cannot show a cause-and-effect relationship between rotavirus vaccination and Type 1 diabetes risk.

"This is an uncommon condition, so it takes large amounts of data to see any trends across a population," says Rogers, an associate professor in the U-M Department of Internal Medicine. "It will take more time and analyses to confirm these findings. But we do see a decline in Type 1 diabetes in young children after the rotavirus vaccine was introduced."

The new result echoes the findings of a study of Australian children published earlier this year, which found a 14 percent reduced risk of Type 1 diabetes after the rotavirus vaccine was introduced in that country. That study, and the new one, suggest that a childhood vaccine may lead to a lower risk of a later chronic condition.

It also fits with laboratory studies showing that rotavirus attacks the same kind of pancreas cells that are affected in people with Type 1 diabetes. ...

The study also notes that it's too soon to find evidence of whether the vaccine is permanently reducing the incidence of Type 1 diabetes, or only delaying its onset.  Also, there are still vaccinated children who develop the disease, so there must be more factors involved than just a rotavirus infection.  Nevertheless, this looks pretty promising.

[Morning Sunshine]

well, that is interesting.  I could see the correlation actually between the organs that rotavirus effects and damage to the pancreas.  I guess I would wonder if those who still get type I had a minor rotavirus episode, maybe not even enough to notice.  Definitely looking a the correlations