Julie A Bettinger1, Otto G Vanderkooi, Judy MacDonald, James D Kellner. 1. From the *Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia; †Alberta Children's Hospital, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta; and ‡Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A National Ambulatory Network was created in 2009 to rapidly assess the safety of influenza vaccines. In 2012, the network was expanded to monitor the safety of live attenuated influenza vaccine and trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children. METHODS: We used an online survey administered 7 days after influenza immunization to track new or exacerbated health problems that required medical consultation or prevented daily activities. Parents of immunized children completed the survey. Reported adverse events were followed up by telephone within 48 hours of the online report. A sample of nonresponders was contacted by telephone to ensure the online responder group was representative. Event rates after the 2 influenza vaccines were compared. RESULTS: A total of 1230 parents completed an online or telephone survey, for a participation rate of 83%: 72% responded online and an additional 11% were reached by telephone. The rate of severe events in children immunized with an influenza vaccine was 4.7% (3.5-5.9%). The frequency and types of events reported were similar between online and telephone reports. Reported rates of severe events were similar after trivalent inactivated influenza or live attenuated influenza vaccine (4.0% vs. 5.1%, respectively). The online survey was easy to access and understand. Most respondents (94%) would participate next year. CONCLUSIONS: The rate and type of adverse events after immunization with trivalent inactivated influenza versus live attenuated influenza vaccine were similar and did not vary by reporting process (online vs. telephone). The electronic surveillance methodology provided rapid vaccine safety data in children. The electronic survey methodology was acceptable and feasible.
BACKGROUND: A National Ambulatory Network was created in 2009 to rapidly assess the safety of influenza vaccines. In 2012, the network was expanded to monitor the safety of live attenuated influenza vaccine and trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children. METHODS: We used an online survey administered 7 days after influenza immunization to track new or exacerbated health problems that required medical consultation or prevented daily activities. Parents of immunized children completed the survey. Reported adverse events were followed up by telephone within 48 hours of the online report. A sample of nonresponders was contacted by telephone to ensure the online responder group was representative. Event rates after the 2 influenza vaccines were compared. RESULTS: A total of 1230 parents completed an online or telephone survey, for a participation rate of 83%: 72% responded online and an additional 11% were reached by telephone. The rate of severe events in children immunized with an influenza vaccine was 4.7% (3.5-5.9%). The frequency and types of events reported were similar between online and telephone reports. Reported rates of severe events were similar after trivalent inactivated influenza or live attenuated influenza vaccine (4.0% vs. 5.1%, respectively). The online survey was easy to access and understand. Most respondents (94%) would participate next year. CONCLUSIONS: The rate and type of adverse events after immunization with trivalent inactivated influenza versus live attenuated influenza vaccine were similar and did not vary by reporting process (online vs. telephone). The electronic surveillance methodology provided rapid vaccine safety data in children. The electronic survey methodology was acceptable and feasible.
Authors: J McCarthy; S A Halperin; J A Bettinger; J M Langley; N S Crowcroft; S Deeks; J C Kwong; G De Serres; K Top; S McNeil; D W Scheifele Journal: Can Commun Dis Rep Date: 2015-02-20
Authors: Patrick Cashman; Kristine Macartney; Gulam Khandaker; Catherine King; Michael Gold; David N Durrheim Journal: Int Health Date: 2017-05-01 Impact factor: 2.473
Authors: Julie A Bettinger; Gaston De Serres; Louis Valiquette; Otto G Vanderkooi; James D Kellner; Brenda L Coleman; Karina A Top; Jennifer E Isenor; Anne E McCarthy Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2020-06