Potential immediate hypersensitivity reactions following immunization in preschool aged children in Victoria, Australia

C-M Baxter; H J Clothier; K P Perrett

doi:10.1080/21645515.2018.1460293

Potential immediate hypersensitivity reactions following immunization in preschool aged children in Victoria, Australia

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2018;14(8):2088-2092. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1460293. Epub 2018 May 10.

Authors

C-M Baxter¹, H J Clothier^{2

3}, K P Perrett^{3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ a Department of General Medicine , The Royal Children's Hospital , Victoria , Australia.
² b Surveillance of Adverse Events following Immunisation in Victoria (SAEFVIC), Murdoch Children's Research Institute , Victoria , Australia.
³ c School of Population & Global Health, University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
⁴ d Department of Allergy and Immunology and General Medicine , The Royal Children's Hospital , Victoria , Australia.
⁵ e Gastro & Food Allergy Research Group and Melbourne Children's Trial Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute , Victoria , Australia.

Abstract

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions (IHR) are rare but potentially serious adverse events following immunization (AEFI). Surveillance of Adverse Events following Vaccination in the Community (SAEFVIC) is an enhanced passive surveillance system that collects, analyses and reports information about AEFI in Victoria, Australia. We describe the incidence, timing and type of potential IHR following vaccination in preschool children reported over an 8-year period. A total of 2110 AEFI were reported in 1620 children, of which 23.5% (496) were classified as potential IHR. Of these, 37.1% (184) were suspected to be IgE-mediated, (including anaphylaxis, angioedema and/or urticaria) and 83.5% (414) occurred within 15 minutes of vaccination. The incidence of potential IHR was 5.4 per 100,000 doses, with that of suspected IgE-mediated IHR being 2.0 per 100,000 doses. The incidence of anaphylaxis was extremely low (0.13 per 100,000 doses) and is consistent with other published studies. Potential IHR following immunization should be reported to appropriate local pharmacovigilance systems and patients reviewed by specialists able to evaluate, investigate and manage future vaccinations.

Keywords: adverse events following immunization (AEFI); vaccine allergy; vaccine hypersensitivity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / statistics & numerical data*
Anaphylaxis / epidemiology*
Anaphylaxis / immunology
Child, Preschool
Humans
Incidence
Pharmacovigilance
Vaccination / adverse effects*
Vaccination / statistics & numerical data
Vaccines / administration & dosage
Vaccines / adverse effects*
Vaccines / immunology
Victoria

Substances

Vaccines

Grants and funding

SAEFVIC is funded by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. KP is supported by a Melbourne Children's Clinician-Scientist Fellowship. Hazel Clothier is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.