All babies are to be vaccinated against rotavirus from September next year, in a bid to cut hospital stays and free up 'hundreds of thousands' of GP visits.
At present, rotavirus causes 140,000 diarrhoea cases a year in under-fives across the UK, and leads to around 14,000 hospital stays. It is estimated the vaccine will halve the number of vomiting and diarrhoea cases caused by rotavirus and there could be 70% fewer hospital stays as a result.
Babies, under four months of age, will receive the vaccination in GP surgeries, as part the Childhood Immunisation Programme.
In the US, studies have shown rotavirus-related hospital admissions for young children have been cut by more than two thirds since rotavirus vaccination was introduced.
Professor David Salisbury, DH director of immunisation said: 'Many people think of diarrhoea as something that all children get and that you have to put up with. But there is a way to protect children from this. I'd encourage all parents of young children to accept this vaccine when the programme begins next year.'