About AusVaxSafety (previously named FAST)
AusVaxSafety is a text / telephone survey of parents of children aged 6 months to under 5 years who have recently received the seasonal Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV). At the commencement of the seasonal 'flu vaccination programme, the Vaccine Trials Group contact a random sample of parents who are vaccinated at Princess Margaret Hospital to ask whether or not their children experience any side effects.
The aim of the study is the early identification of any problems with the current 'flu vaccines as well as providing parents and professionals with up to date information.
In 2014 FAST became part of AusVaxSafety, an enhanced surveillance system to monitor adverse events following immunisation with influenza vaccine in children under 5 years of age. Using FAST data and also data from surveillance in New South Wales and Victoria, AusVaxSafety reports to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Results from 2015 Surveillance
More than 2,600 children in Western Australia have been recruited into the AusVaxSafety program with 2,398 completing a text/telephone survey. A reaction to the vaccine has been reported in 139 children (5.8%) . Reported reactions are generally mild and short-lived.
The data from Western Australia has contributed to the national surveillance effort and as of 7th June 2015, data on 3,264 children Australia-wide have shown no safety concerns. For all children whose parent completed the AusVaxSafety survey 288 (8.8%) experienced a reaction, with the most commonly reported reaction being fever (3.8%), reaction at injection site (1.7%), vomiting (1.1%) and rash (1.0%).
These are all expected, mild adverse events and consistent with the known safety profile of TIV. These data are reassuring that the 2015 TIV is safe in children.
For further information please see the AusVaxSafety website.
Results from 2014 surveillance
AusVaxSafety surveillance data from 2014 shows that seasonal influenza vaccine was safe in children under 5 years of age with reported reactions generally mild and resolving within 1 to 2 days. No serious vaccine reactions were reported.
Vaccine Trials Group would like to say a big thank you to all the parents, vaccine providers and staff at PMH and the Department of Health who have made this surveillance possible.
Why are we doing AusVaxSafety?
Like any other medication, vaccines can have side effects which are usually mild and short-lasting and do not need special treatment.
However, in 2010 there were an increased number of children experiencing fever and fever-related convulsions after receiving the Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV). This was related to one particular brand of vaccine which is no longer being used in Australia for the vaccination of children under five years of age.
To identify which brand of vaccine was responsible for the reactions we conducted a survey very similar to AusVaxSafety.
The 2010 telephone survey found:
- There was a clear increase in side effects with the problem brand.
- There were also some mild side effects reported from the other brand used in WA in 2010. These mild side effects are expected from any vaccine and should be compared to the results of the 2011 FAST survey.
The Department of Health, Western Australia provides information and fact sheets on immunisations as well as vaccination safety information for consumers.
For more information, visit the HealthyWA Childhood immunisation website.