.Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - According to a new report the rotavirus vaccinations have been able to reduce the number of hospitalizations of children with the disease by 70% or more in many parts in the U.S.

Researchers stated that the oral vaccine for diarrhea was very effective overall.

The vaccine from Merck is known as Rotateq, while a similar vaccine is Rotarix from GlaxoSmithKline. Both are considered equally safe and both are approved by the FDA.

A study was led by the vaccine maker Merck & Co. and found that the vaccine helped cut down on the number of emergency room visits for kids.

Irini Daskalaki of Drexel University College of Medicine spoke at a meeting of the American Society of Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Daskalaki stated that babies aged 6 to 11 months saw a 94% decrease in hospitalizations thanks to the vaccine.

Rotavirus is responsible for over 500,000 deaths of kids under 5 every single year.

These vaccines are helping this number drop by preventing the infection.