Authors:
Wood NJ, Blyth CC, Willis GA, Richmond P, Gold MS, Buttery JP, et al.
Authors notes:
Medical Journal of Australia. 2014;201(10):596-600
Keywords:
Influenza Vaccines, Population Surveillance, Children, Vaccines
Abstract:
Our objective was to examine influenza vaccine safety in Australian children aged under 10 years in 2013.
Of 981 children enrolled in the surveillance, 893 children aged 6 months to < 10 years were eligible for inclusion.
These children received 1052 influenza vaccine doses.
Fever was reported in 5.5% and 6.5% of children after Doses 1 and 2, respectively.
One febrile convulsion occurred in a child with a known seizure disorder.
Injection site reactions occurred in 21.2% and 6.0% after Doses 1 and 2, respectively; most were mild.
Very few parents sought medical follow-up for their child's reaction: 22 after Dose 1, and 11 after Dose 2.
These results are consistent with clinical trials and other observational studies of influenza vaccines currently registered for use in young children in Australia and can reassure parents and health care providers that influenza vaccination is safe and well tolerated.