Author/Authors :
Mofleh, J.A. Ministry of Public Health - Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Afghanistan , Akbarian, Z. Ministry of Public Health - Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) Office, Western Region, Afghanistan , Muserat, N. Ministry of Public Health - DEWS Office Central Region, Afghanistan , Yosofi, H. Ministry of Public Health - DEWS Office Northern Region, Afghanistan , Alkozai, A. Ministry of Public Health - DEWS Office Eastern Region, Afghanistan , Noormal, B. Ministry of Public Health - Afghan Public Health Institute, Afghanistan
Abstract :
At the end of March 2010 an A/H1N1 vaccination campaign was conducted in Afghanistan using donated vaccines. However, no surveillance system for detection of adverse events following immunization was in place. We report a cross-sectional, descriptive survey in 4 provinces of Afghanistan to assess the rate of adverse events among health care staff immunized with A/H1N1 monovalent vaccine 4 weeks after vaccination. Using random sampling proportionate to size, 350 staff (mean age 36 years, range 16–65 years) were surveyed using a questionnaire. The highest self-reported rates of adverse events were pain at the injection site (53%), fever in the first 3 days after immunization (40%), body pain (39%), tiredness (33%), swelling at the injection site (29%) and redness at the injection site (28%). More females than males suffered adverse reactions and the rates varied across different provinces, ranging from 79% in Balkh to 23% in Kabul.
