Reporting adverse events after immunisation
An adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) is an unwanted or unexpected event following immunisation. It may:
- be related to the vaccine itself
- be related to its handling or administration, or
- may occur by coincidence, regardless of the vaccine.
Informing patients about common side effects
Inform your patients about common side effects of vaccinations and how to treat them.
Reporting adverse events after immunisation
Severe side effects from vaccines are rare. Common side effects are usually mild and short-lasting.
In the ACT, adverse events following immunisation are notifiable by health professionals under the ACT Public Health Act 1997: Public Health (Reporting of Notifiable Conditions) Code of Practice 2017 (No 1).
How to report events
n the ACT, report adverse events to the ACT Health Public Health Response Unit.
Report by either:
- filling out the online immunisation adverse event reporting form
- calling 02 5124 9213 during business hours.
Vaccine administration error
Vaccine administration errors can occur when a vaccine is incorrectly stored, prepared, or administered outside the current clinical guidelines. Vaccine administration errors have the potential to result in an AEFI.
Vaccine administration errors should be reported to the ACT Health Public Health Response Unit. To report a vaccine administration error, fill out the vaccination medication error reporting form.
National reporting
The Public Health Response Unit reports all adverse event notifications to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Reports to the TGA can be found in the Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN).
Australia-wide annual reports on adverse events surveillance are published by the Australian Government.