1. Causality assessment of serious and severe adverse events following immunization in India: a 4-year practical experience.
- Author
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Singh AK, Wagner AL, Joshi J, Carlson BF, Aneja S, and Boulton ML
- Subjects
- Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems statistics & numerical data, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Immunization Programs, India epidemiology, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Vaccines administration & dosage, World Health Organization, Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions epidemiology, Immunization adverse effects, Vaccination adverse effects, Vaccines adverse effects
- Abstract
Background: India has implemented the World Health Organization's revised Causality Assessment Protocol for adverse events following immunization (AEFI). We describe the number and types of serious/severe AEFIs, including deaths., Research Design and Methods: Analysis of causality classification of reported serious/severe AEFIs from 1 January 2012 to 7 January 2016 was done. Classification includes (A) consistent with causal association to immunization; (B) indeterminate; (C) coincidental association; or (D) unclassifiable. We present descriptive statistics across each category., Results: Analysis of causality assessment completed for 1037 reports of serious AEFIs: 499 (48%) were causally associated, 84 (8%) were indeterminate, 323 (31%) were coincidental, and 131 (13%) were unclassifiable. Of the 499 reports in the A category, the events were causally linked to vaccine product for 189 (18%), to immunization error for 135 (13%), and to immunization anxiety for 175 (17%). Among 279 reported deaths, more than half (55%; n = 153) were coincidental events and 37% were unclassifiable., Conclusions: Causality assessment of AEFI cases is an important component of vaccination programs and post-marketing surveillance of vaccines. Field reporting and investigation of AEFIs can be improved for many severe or serious reports, most of which are not causally linked to the vaccination program.
- Published
- 2018
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