Journal Article

Adverse events following HPV vaccination, Alberta 2006–2014

Bell, Christopher A., Simmonds, Kimberley A., Liu, Xianfang C., Svenson, Lawrence W., Russell, Margaret L.

2016

Overview

•Reported adverse events (HPV vaccination) were examined for Alberta for June 2006–November 2014.•Emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations within 42 days were also examined.•Data included publicly and privately funded HPV vaccines received by females aged 9 years or older.•Venous thromboembolism was observed only for ED visits and hospitalizations, not as reported AEFIs.•AEFI rates were low and consistent with types of event seen elsewhere. In Canada, private purchase of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines has been possible since 2006. In Alberta, Canada, a publicly funded quadrivalent HPV vaccine program began in the 2008/2009 school year. There have been concerns about adverse events, including venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with HPV vaccines. We describe the frequencies of adverse events following HPV vaccination among Alberta females aged 9 years or older and look at VTE following HPV vaccination. We used the Alberta Immunization and Adverse Reaction to Immunization (Imm/ARI) repository (publicly funded vaccine), the population-based Pharmaceutical Information Network (PIN) information system (dispensing of a vaccine), and the Alberta Morbidity and Ambulatory Care Abstract reporting system (MACAR) for June 1, 2006–November 19, 2014. Deterministic data linkage used unique personal identifiers. We identified all reported adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and all emergency department (ED) utilization or hospitalizations within 42 days of immunization. We calculated the frequency of AEFI by type, rates per 100,000 doses of HPV vaccine administered and the frequencies of ICD-10-CA codes for hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Over the period 195,270 females received 528,913 doses of HPV vaccine. Of those receiving at least one dose, 192 reported one or more AEFI events (198 AEFI events), i.e., 37.4/100,000 doses administered (95% CI 32.5–43.0). None were consistent with VTE. Of the women who received HPV vaccine 958 were hospitalized and 19,351 had an ED visit within 42 days of immunization. Four women who had an ED visit and hospitalization event were diagnosed with VTE. Three of these had other diagnoses known to be associated with VTE; the fourth woman had VTE among ED diagnoses but not among those for the hospitalization. Rates of AEFI after HPV immunization in Alberta are low and consistent with types of events seen elsewhere.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / adverse effects / Alberta / Allergy and Immunology / Canada / Child / Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - epidemiology / Female / Females / Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data / HPV vaccination / Human papillomavirus / Humans / Immunization / information systems / Metabolic disorders / Middle Aged / morbidity / papilloma / Papillomaviridae / Papillomavirus Vaccines - adverse effects / Papillomavirus vaccines/ae [adverse effects] / Population surveillance / Postmarketing / Product surveillance / Product Surveillance, Postmarketing / Thromboembolism / vaccination / Vaccination - adverse effects / Vaccination/ae [adverse effects] / Vaccines / viruses / women / Young Adult