Safety of meningococcal group C conjugate vaccines in Wales: the importance of the Yellow Cord

Abstract

lntroduction: In November ,l999 o moss notionol immunisotion compoign tovoccinote oll children under l8 yeors with the new meningococcol C coniugote voccines begon. We hove onolysed odverse reoctions to the new vqccine reported to CSM Woles during the first fifteen-month period. Methods: The Welsh Adverse Drug Reoction Scheme, estoblished 1983, receives Yellow Cords from heolth core professionols in Woles. The doto from the yellow cords ore mqintoined in o comprehensive dotobose. Detoils of Yellow Cord reporting o reoction following meningococcol C coniugote voccine during the study period were extrqcted from this dotobose. ResulB: There were 1084 reports contoining 1,924 suspected reoctions. Nurses completed opproximotely 50% of the reports with generol proctitioners ond hospifol doctors reporting the remoinder. 80% of the reporis were from the older oge group (> 5 yeorsf .Adverse reoctions most frequently reported were iniection site reoctions, heodoche, dizziness, nouseo, vomiting, roshes, urticorio ond syncope. Only 11.6% of them were clossed os serious. Conclusions: These findings illusirote the importonce of the Yellow Cord Scheme for reporting odverse reoctions to medicines in children.