Adverse Events Following Immunization

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Adverse Events Following Immunization - Defining & Sorting

  • Definition (WHO): An AEFI is any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine.

  • Operational Classifications of AEFI: 📌 Mnemonic: "Very Quiet Errors Anxiously Coincide"

CategoryDescriptionExamples
Vaccine product-related reactionVaccine's inherent properties.Fever, local pain/swelling.
Quality defect-related reactionVaccine quality defects.Unsterile vaccine → abscess.
Error-related reaction (Programmatic)Incorrect handling/administration.Wrong route/dose.
Anxiety-related reaction (Immunization)Anxiety about immunization.Fainting, hyperventilation.
Coincidental eventNot vaccine-caused; chance temporal link.Unrelated concurrent illness.

Adverse Events Following Immunization - Mild to Wild

AEFIs range from common, mild events to rare, serious ones.

  • Common Minor AEFIs:
    • Local: Pain, swelling, redness at injection site.
    • Systemic: Fever (<38.5°C), malaise, irritability, headache.
  • Serious AEFIs (Rare):
    • Anaphylaxis (immediate, severe allergic reaction).
    • Hypotonic-Hyporesponsive Episode (HHE): Sudden pallor, limpness, ↓responsiveness.
    • Persistent Inconsolable Screaming: Continuous crying for ≥3 hours.
    • Seizures: Febrile or afebrile.
    • Thrombocytopenia: ↓Platelet count.
    • Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS): Ascending paralysis.
    • Encephalopathy: Altered mental status.
    • Vaccine-Associated Paralytic Poliomyelitis (VAPP): With OPV.
    • BCG-osis (Disseminated BCG infection): In immunocompromised.
    • Sepsis, Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
FeatureMinor AEFISerious AEFI
OnsetHours to 1-2 daysAnaphylaxis: immediate; Others: days-weeks
DurationShort (1-3 days)Longer, may be permanent
SeverityMild, self-limitingSevere, potentially life-threatening, disabling
OutcomeFull recoveryMay require hospitalization, cause sequelae

Adverse Events Following Immunization - Report & Respond

  • AEFI Surveillance (India):
    • Objectives: Detect, manage, assess causality, maintain trust in immunization programs.
    • Reporting: Health workers (ANM, ASHA, MO) report to District Immunization Officer (DIO). Serious AEFIs (death, disability, hospitalization, cluster) must be reported via Standard AEFI Reporting Form within 24 hours.
  • Investigation: Serious AEFIs are investigated by the DIO/designated team to determine the cause and guide corrective actions.
  • Anaphylaxis Management:
    • Recognize: Rapid onset, multi-system signs (e.g., respiratory distress, ↓BP, skin/mucosal changes). 📌 Use ABCDE (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure) approach.
    • Action: Call for help. Administer IM Adrenaline (anterolateral thigh): $0.01 \text{ mg/kg}$ (or $0.1 \text{ mL/10kg}$) of 1:1000 solution (max $0.5 \text{ mg}$). Repeat every 5-15 minutes if needed (up to 3 doses).
  • Febrile Seizures Management:
    • Usually benign and self-limiting. Manage fever with antipyretics (e.g., paracetamol). Provide reassurance. Refer if seizure is prolonged (>15 min) or recurrent.

⭐ Intramuscular adrenaline is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis following immunization and should be administered promptly.

Flowchart: AEFI Reporting Pathway in India

Adverse Events Following Immunization - Cause or Coincidence?

  • Purpose: Crucial to determine if an AEFI is truly vaccine-caused or coincidental, guiding public health response and maintaining trust.
  • Key Factors in Assessment:
    • Temporal relationship
    • Biological plausibility
    • Strength of association
    • Consistency of evidence
    • Specificity of event
  • WHO AEFI Causality Categories:
    • A: Consistent causal association with immunization
    • B1/B2: Indeterminate (e.g., conflicting data, new signal)
    • C: Inconsistent with causal association (Coincidental)
    • D: Unclassifiable (insufficient data)

⭐ Causality assessment helps differentiate events truly caused by a vaccine from coincidental events, which is vital for vaccine safety communication.

High-Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • AEFI is any untoward medical occurrence post-immunization, not necessarily causal.
  • AEFI types: Vaccine product/quality defect, immunization error/anxiety, coincidental event.
  • Most common: Minor local reactions (pain, swelling, redness) and fever.
  • Serious AEFIs: Anaphylaxis (rare), febrile seizures, thrombocytopenia, GBS, encephalopathy.
  • Anaphylaxis management: Epinephrine (Adrenaline) is the first-line treatment.
  • Programmatic errors (e.g., wrong route, unsterile technique) are preventable causes of AEFIs.
  • Prompt AEFI reporting and causality assessment are crucial for pharmacovigilance.
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If the HCW is unvaccinated and the source is HbsAg -ve, or unknown what is the next step?_____

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If the HCW is unvaccinated and the source is HbsAg -ve, or unknown what is the next step?_____

initiate HB vaccine series

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