Research Objective
The objective of the Vaccine Safety theme is to develop and test population-based methods to evaluate the safety of influenza vaccine once it is released for general use.
Specific aims
- To develop an active surveillance system of serious adverse events following influenza vaccination in 15,000–30,000 individuals working in a national network of hospitals.
- To develop and train a network of medical specialists throughout the country to investigate the safety of influenza vaccine. This would include a network of allergist/immunologists who would investigate the safety of influenza vaccine in egg-allergic individuals and a network of neurologists who would investigate the frequency of GBS after influenza vaccination.
- To develop and train a network of public health epidemiologists throughout the country to monitor and investigate vaccine adverse events.
Research plan
- active surveillance system of health care workers in five hospitals (Halifax, Quebec City, Kingston, Toronto, Vancouver)
- network of medical specialists
- network of clinical immunoallergists: Investigation of the safety of influenza vaccination in egg-allergic individuals
- network of clinical neurologists: Baseline frequency of GBS in Canada
- develop and train a network of public health workers to investigate rare adverse events
- identify Potential pitfalls and alternatives