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Post licensure surveillance of influenza vaccines in the Vaccine Safety Datalink in the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 seasons
Author(s) -
Li Rongxia,
Stewart Brock,
McNeil Michael M.,
Duffy Jonathan,
Nelson Jennifer,
Kawai Alison Tse,
Baxter Roger,
Belongia Edward A.,
Weintraub Eric
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.023
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1099-1557
pISSN - 1053-8569
DOI - 10.1002/pds.3996
Subject(s) - medicine , adverse effect , concomitant , confidence interval , vaccination , relative risk , pharmacovigilance , influenza vaccine , adverse event reporting system , cohort study , pediatrics , immunology
Abstract Purpose The changes in each year in influenza vaccine antigenic components as well as vaccine administration patterns may pose new risks of adverse events following immunization (AEs). To evaluate the safety of influenza vaccines annually administered to people ≥ 6 months, we conducted weekly post licensure surveillance for seven pre‐specified adverse events following receipt of influenza vaccines during the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 seasons in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). Methods We used both a historically‐controlled cohort design with the Poisson‐based maximized sequential probability ratio test (maxSPRT) and a self‐controlled risk interval (SCRI) design with the binomial‐based maxSPRT. For each adverse event outcome, we defined the risk interval on the basis of biologic plausibility and prior literature. For the historical cohort design, numbers of expected adverse events were calculated from the prior seven seasons, adjusted for age and site. For the SCRI design, a comparison window was defined either before vaccination or after vaccination, depending on each specific outcome. Results An elevated risk of febrile seizures 0–1 days following trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) was identified in children aged 6–23 months during the 2014–2015 season using the SCRI design. We found the relative risk (RR) of febrile seizures following concomitant administration of IIV3 and PCV13 was 5.3 with a 95% CI 1.87–14.75. Without concomitant PCV 13 administration, the estimated risk decreased and was no longer statistically significant (RR: 1.4; CI: 0.54 – 3.61). Conclusion No increased risks, other than for febrile seizures, were identified in influenza vaccine safety surveillance during 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 seasons in the VSD. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.