Vaccine
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Rotavirus (RV) causes a highly contagious gastroenteritis especially in children under five years of age. Since 2006 two RV-vaccines are available in Europe (Rotarix(®) and RotaTeq(®)). To support informed decision-making within the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) the cost-effectiveness of these two vaccines was evaluated for the German healthcare setting. ⋯ Our analyses demonstrate that routine RV-vaccination could prevent a substantial number of RV-cases and hospitalizations in the German healthcare system, but the saved treatment costs are counteracted by costs for vaccination. However, with vaccine prices reduced by ∼62-66%, RV-vaccination could even become a cost-saving preventive measure.