A cluster of deaths following influenza vaccination, Israel, 2006

When four deaths occurred in one week among influenza vaccine recipients, the Israeli Health Ministry suspended its 2006 influenza vaccination campaign pending investigation of the causes of death. Medical histories of the deceased vaccinées, quality control reports, and laboratory test results were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of public health policy 2010-09, Vol.31 (3), p.318-323
Main Authors: Anis, Emilia, Leventhal, Alex, Slater, Paul E., Arbeli, Yael, Sivan, Yoram, Berlovitz, Yitzhak, Lev, Boaz, Israeli, Avi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Campaigns
Death
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Equality and Human Rights
Health policy
Humans
Immunization
Immunization Programs - statistics & numerical data
Influenza
Influenza vaccines
Influenza Vaccines - adverse effects
Influenza, Human
Investigations
Israel
Laboratory tests
Male
Medical Sociology
Mortality
Older adults
Original Article
Public Health
Publishing industry
Quality assurance
Quality control
Risk assessment
Social Justice
Social Policy
Social Sciences
Sociology
Symptoms
Vaccination
Vaccines
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Summary:When four deaths occurred in one week among influenza vaccine recipients, the Israeli Health Ministry suspended its 2006 influenza vaccination campaign pending investigation of the causes of death. Medical histories of the deceased vaccinées, quality control reports, and laboratory test results were examined. Prior vaccine use that season and a risk assessment of the vaccinated population were also considered. All four decedents had been treated for cardiac and other chronic diseases, and none had experienced post-injection symptoms suggesting adverse reaction to influenza vaccine. Quality control and laboratory reports confirmed vaccine batch safety, and no adverse effects had been reported among any other vaccine recipients. Investigators found no causal connection between the deaths and the vaccine, and the Health Ministry resumed the campaign. Israeli public health officials viewed the investigation as vital to maintaining broad confidence in the public health system, and in future vaccination campaigns.
ISSN:0197-5897
1745-655X
DOI:10.1057/jphp.2010.22