Rate of the occurrence of adverse events in preschool children after vaccination at the Health Care Center in Inđija

Abstract

Introduction: An adverse event following immunization is any undesirable medical occurrence that follows immunization, and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of occurrence of adverse events in preschool children, after vaccination at the Primary Health Care Center in Inđija. Material and methods: Data were used from the medical and administrative documentation of the Pediatrics Department in Inđija. The study covered a period of 11 years and during this period 4,273 children were vaccinated, and 70,558 doses of vaccines were administered. Results: 13 cases of severe adverse reactions to a vaccine were registered, with a rate of 18.4:100,000 vaccine doses. There were 6 severe adverse reactions to the DTP vaccine per 8,180 administered doses of this vaccine, which was a rate of 73.3:100,000 doses of the DTP vaccine. There were 7 cases of severe adverse reactions to the MMR vaccine per 8,505 administered doses of the MMR vaccine, which was a rate of 82.3:100,000 doses of MMR vaccine. The overall rate of adverse reactions in the form of mumps was 47.0:100,000 doses of the MMR vaccine, in the form of rubella rash it was 11.7:100,000 doses of the MMR vaccine and the rate of adverse allergic reactions to the MMR vaccine was 23.5:100,000 doses of the MMR vaccine. According to our results, there were two cases of adverse reactions in the form of allergic reaction, to all vaccines administered, which was the rate of 3:100,000. Conclusion: This study confirms the very rare occurrence of severe adverse reactions to vaccination and speaks in favor of a far greater benefit from vaccination as compared to the risk of an adverse reaction to vaccination.