A Study of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) in Children, in Primary Care

Background: The surveillance of AEFI is important to improve the vaccine safety and also to build public confidence in immunization’s effects. The lack of confidence in immunization`s benefits and the fear of possible side effects are the main reasons why there is a refusal to vaccination.

Objective: To analyze the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in 0-16 year old children and to quantify the rates and severity of these events.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted in 3 family medicine offices between the 1st of January 2017 and the 31st of December 2017 (2445 vaccine doses administered).During appointments for vaccination, parents were given information concerning possible AEFI and were advised on how to act, should these reactions appear, including reaching out to the family doctor by telephone or e-mail. There were records of adverse reactions being noticed by parents and by medical personnel and recorded following the methodology of the National Center of Control for Infectious Diseases.

Results: There were records of 283 minor AEFI in the first 2 to 10 days following vaccine administration, which consisted of 11,57% of the total vaccine doses administered. The adverse reactions were: moderate or low grade fever, food intake behavior disorder, sleep behavior disorder and mild local reactions. There was no need of emergency care treatment or clinical admission.

Conclusion: The evaluation and analysis of AEFI confirms the low rates of occurrence and the lack of severity compared to risk of the vaccine preventable disease. The active involvement and counseling of parents in reporting possible AEFI gives them responsibility, lowers the unease about possible reactions and heightens vaccination acceptance rates