SAEFVIC: Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community

SAEFVIC logo: Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community SAEFVIC has been set-up for the Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community. In Victoria, significant adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) can be notified to SAEFVIC instead of ADRAC.

This specialist service has been established to help immunisation providers manage patients who have had an AEFI. It is for all immunisation adverse events in both children and adults.

How do I report AEFI in Victoria?

Please report an AEFI at any time (24 hours and 7 days a week) by:

Telephone:
1300 882 924 between 10am and 3.30pm. All other times, please leave contact details on the answering machine and the SAEFVIC nurses will return your call as soon as possible.

Fax or post:

SAEFVIC Form for reporting an adverse event following immunisation (37 kb, pdf)

SAEFVIC Form for reporting an adverse event following immunisation (165 kb, MS Word)

Fax: (61 3) 9345 4163 (24 hours)

Post:
SAEFVIC, Murdoch Children¿s Research Institute
c/- Royal Children¿s Hospital
Flemington Rd
Parkville
Vic 3052

What will SAEFVIC provide?

Clinical support to patients and immunisation providers
Information to immunisation providers about AEFI in their patients
Specialised immunisation clinics for children and adults with a history of a significant AEFI
Maximize immunisation coverage and therefore improve the control of vaccine-preventable diseases
Improve knowledge of AEFI by systematic surveillance
Improve the level of reporting of AEFI's to ADRAC. All the significant and unexpected adverse events following immunisation that meet the current case definitions for AEFI, will automatically be reported to ADRAC by SAEFVIC.

What is an AEFI?

The international definition of an AEFI is ¿an unwanted or unexpected event following the administration of a vaccine(s). AEFI may be caused by a vaccine(s) or may occur by coincidence (i.e. it would have occurred regardless of vaccination)¿. AEFIs also include conditions that may occur following the incorrect handling and/or administration of a vaccine(s).

Should all AEFI be reported?

Currently AEFI are classified as either ¿common/minor¿ OR ¿significant¿. We encourage you to report the significant AEFI (or rare and unexpected) rather than the ¿common/minor¿ AEFI. For more information about severity of AEFI, please refer to the current edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

What is SAEFVIC?

SAEFVIC has been set-up for the Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community. It is an addition to the Victorian Immunisation Program and funded by the Department of Human Services (Victoria). It is based within the Murdoch Children¿s Research Institute located at the Royal Children¿s Hospital in Parkville. This specialist service has been established to help doctors, nurses and members of the community, to encourage full immunisation of children and adults who have experienced a significant AEFI.

How will the new clinical feedback system work?

Rapid feedback to patients and immunisation service providers who report significant AEFI is an important part of this service. Doctors and nurses who report to SAEFVIC will receive timely feedback (by phone, E-mail or letter) to assist in the care of these patients. After reporting a possible AEFI to the SAEFVIC Unit feedback will be receive to assist in deciding how to clinically manage future immunisation for the patient.

You can decide how you want to get that feedback when you complete the SAEFVIC reporting form (see How do I report AEFI in Victoria).

How can I refer a patient to an adult or children's Specialist Immunisation Clinic?

Although there are some adverse events, which contraindicate further vaccine doses, for many others revaccination is possible. The specialised clinical services are available for children or adults following significant AEFI that you believe need further vaccinations under supervision or who would benefit from further discussions.

SAEFVIC will offer individualised assessment on the suspected adverse event and outline options regarding future vaccinations. Following some adverse reactions it may be recommended that subsequent vaccinations be administered under medical supervision at one of the hospital-based clinics (either as an out-patient or occasionally, as an in-patient).

The immunisation clinics will be located at the Royal Children's Hospital (for infants and children); the Monash Medical Centre (for children and adults) and at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (for adults). You will be sent information about these clinics in our initial feedback when you report a significant AEFI.

Do I still have to report a significant AEFI to ADRAC (the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee)?

No. You only need to report to the SAEFVIC Unit. The SAEFVIC Unit has been funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services for reporting AEFI to ADRAC.

It is expected that some doctors and nurses will continue to report directly to ADRAC. If an AEFI report is sent to both SAEFVIC and to ADRAC, do not worry as this will be managed through the SAEFVIC computer system.

Why is it important to collect information about AEFI?

The public health aim for SAEFVIC surveillance is the early detection, and appropriate and quick response to AEFI to lessen the negative impact upon the health of the individuals and the immunisation program. It is important to provide indivualised support to patients and their immunisationproviders when reporting an AEFI.

The clinical back-up provided by SAEFVIC will increase the confidence of patients and their immunisation providers, to continue the immunisation schedule ¿ even if they have experienced an AEFI.

Download fact sheet

SAEFVIC - Information for all immunisation providers (87kb, pdf)

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