Swiss group announces vaccine for Haitian children

(AP)—An executive for a Swiss international foundation says it will soon help Haiti vaccinate thousands of children against contagious rotavirus.

Helen Evans is the deputy CEO of GAVI Alliance. She says the group will help Haiti's health workers vaccinate more than 250,000 children.

Rotavirus is extremely contagious and widespread among children in the developing world. It causes diarrhea and rapid dehydration that can lead to death if not treated.

The two-dose vaccine will be distributed to public health centers throughout the country this summer.

GAVI will pay $4.7 million for the vaccine and the government will pitch in $370,000.

Evans told AP about the new effort on Friday.