Real-time safety surveillance of seasonal influenza vaccines in children, Australia, 2015

This paper reports the results from the safety surveillance of influenza vaccines in children in Australia, in 2015.

Authors:
Pillsbury A, Cashman P, Leeb A, Regan A, Westphal D, Snelling T, et al.

Authors notes:
Eurosurveillance. 2015;20(43):30050.

Keywords:
Aus VaxSafety, children, vaccine, influenza vaccine

Abstract:
Increased febrile reactions in Australian children from one influenza vaccine brand in 2010 diminished confidence in influenza immunisation, highlighting the need for improved vaccine safety surveillance.

Aus VaxSafety, a national vaccine safety surveillance system collected adverse events in young children for 2015 influenza vaccine brands in real time through parent/carer reports via SMS/email.

Weekly cumulative data on 3,340 children demonstrated low rates of fever (4.4%) and medical attendance (1.1%).

Fever was more frequent with concomitant vaccination.