Core functions specific to vaccine safety

When an adverse event following immunization (AEFI) happens, it is the health staff administering vaccines that often are the first responders. They assess and treat the adverse event, reporting it, and may be called to contribute to an AEFI investigation. The national immunization programme is responsible for assuring that health staff respond to adverse events, and act to minimize the risk of AEFIs in the future.

Given the central role of the national immunization programme in ensuring the safe delivery and administration of vaccines, it is imperative that it works closely with the NRA and other groups or committees involved in AEFI surveillance.

The national immunization programme NIP should also work in collaboration with national pharmacovigilance centres on the collection and assessment of AEFI data.