Adverse events following immunization: perception and evidence.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Recent vaccine licenses and wider recommendations necessitate a review of safety concerns.
• Understanding vaccine safety is crucial for public trust and adherence to immunization schedules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence on vaccine safety concerns.
• To address new and ongoing safety issues related to recently licensed and widely recommended vaccines.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of epidemiologic and laboratory evidence.
• Analysis of scientific frameworks for investigating adverse events following immunization.

Main Results:

• Convincing evidence refutes causal links between vaccines and alleged adverse events.
• The infrastructure for detecting and investigating adverse events following immunization is robust and improving.

Conclusions:

• Available vaccines are safe for immunocompetent individuals.
• No evidence supports deviating from established immunization schedules.
• Continued vigilance and robust scientific inquiry underpin vaccine safety.