NSW Annual Adverse Events Following Immunisation Report, 2009

This is the first annual report for NSW of adverse events following immunisation. It summarises Australian passive surveillance data for adverse events following immunisation for NSW for 2009.

Analysis of de-identified information on all adverse events following immunisation reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

450 adverse events following immunisation were reported for vaccines administered in 2009; this is 32% higher than 2008 and the highest since 2003. The increase was almost entirely attributed to the commencement of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccine in September 2009. Only 6% of the reported adverse events were serious in nature and the most commonly reported reactions were allergic reaction, injection site reaction, fever and headache.

Reports of adverse events following immunisation in 2009 were dominated by the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccine. A large proportion of these adverse events were reported directly to the Therapeutic Goods Administration by members of the public. Reports were predominantly mild transient events, similar to those expected from the seasonal flu vaccine.