PTI By

NEW DELHI: India's indigenously developed and manufactured Rotavirus vaccine 'Rotavac' was launched today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a step that will help boost efforts to deal with diarrhoea that kills up to 80,000 children under 5 years of age every year.

Modi hoped that the development of the rotavirus vaccine would inspire higher levels of research, development and manufacturing activities in India, not just in medical science, but also in other advanced areas of science and technology.

He felt that solutions found in India would have great relevance to the rest of the world, especially the developing world.

Each year, diarrhoea caused by rotavirus results up to 10 lakh hospitalisations and kills nearly 80,000 children under the age of 5 years. The successful launch of the first indigenously developed and produced vaccine today was the result of an extraordinary effort spread over the last 25 years.

Modi felicitated all the partners in the development of the first indigenous rotavirus vaccine, which involved the complete cycle from basic research to product development of this advanced vaccine in India, a PMO statement said.

He lauded this initiative as an example of India's capabilities for high-end research and development; manufacture of sophisticated pharmaceutical products in India; and, effective Public-Private-Partnership model for finding affordable solutions to societal challenges.

He highlighted the vaccine as a successful example of collaboration between India and the United States in the area of medical research, for the benefit of ordinary citizens.