PhD Completion Seminar - Adverse events following immunisation (AEFI): Optimising a passive surveillance system to improve immunisation safety in Victoria

Hazel Clothier

Presenter: Hazel Clothier, PhD Candidate, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Location: Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, Seminar Room 515, L5, 207 Bouverie Street, CARLTON VIC 3053

Supervisors: Dr Melissa Russell, Professor Jim Buttery,  Ad/Professor Heath Kelly

Abstract: Vaccines are a cornerstone of public health saving millions of lives, however, adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) are a reality. Comprehensive post-licensure vaccine safety surveillance is therefore essential to maintain confidence in immunisation and inform policy. Australia has been critisized for its inability to inform on vaccine safety events in a timely manner. In 2010 this meant failure to prevent serious neurological sequalae arising from increased febrile reactions with one particular brand of influenza vaccine. This doctoral research evaluates “SAEFVIC”, the Victorian AEFI surveillance system’s ability to detect and investigate emergent vaccine safety issues and explores application of a simple and feasible measure of disproportionality for signal detection, providing the evidence-base to optimise the system and demonstrate SAEFVIC as a leader in Australian AEFI surveillance.