Dunedin babies are involved in an oral vaccine trial which could potentially save the lives of millions worldwide.
The University of Otago, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children's Research Institute, is trialling a new rotavirus vaccine administered at birth.
Paediatrician Prof Graeme Barnes said the two existing commercial vaccines for rotavirus must be administered to infants at six weeks, which is too late for many.
"Babies in developing countries like Africa and South America are dying from rotavirus disease before six weeks and that's why the World Health Organisation is very interested in this new vaccine, because doctors can administer it right at birth and cover that danger period," he said.
The particular benign strain of the virus being trialled locally may create a better and more affordable vaccine overall, Dr Barnes said.
Port Chalmers mother Leah Geddes said she was happy for her son Phoenix to take part.
"I just thought 'why not?' If we can help someone out there then it's worth it," she said.
Babies in the Dunedin trial are given three doses of the vaccine or a placebo.
Expectant parents are given information about the trial and invited to participate.
Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children.
By the age of 5, nearly every child in the world has been infected with rotavirus at least once and worldwide nearly 500,000 children under 5 years of age die from rotavirus infection each year.
Almost two million more become severely ill.
In New Zealand rotavirus is responsible for 1500 annual hospital admissions of children under 5 years.
The Dunedin trial would ideally involve 93 babies, local study co-ordinator Amanda Muloch said.
To date, six Dunedin infants have been given the trial vaccine and a further 10 will be vaccinated at birth before mid-April.
Local application of the vaccine began a few months ago and would probably continue for another 18 months, Miss Muloch said.
Dr Barnes said study results should be available in about two years, when decisions would be made about whether to fund phase three of the trial, involving hundreds of babies.
"It's highly likely that if the results of this study are encouraging a foundation will fund the third phase," he said.
University of Otago researcher Dr Pam Jackson is leading the Dunedin trial.
She said the oral vaccine had been shown to be well tolerated.
"What we now need to know is how effective the vaccine is at protecting against the disease and how long protection lasts," she said.
