AusVaxSafety commences enhanced surveillance of Shingrix® following addition to the NIP schedule

On 1 November 2023, Shingrix^® replaced Zostavax^® on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule for the prevention of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia. Shingrix^® has been available to purchase privately for use in Australia since 2021 and has been shown to be to be safe and effective both in Australia and overseas. 

To support the rollout of Shingrix^® to a broader population, AusVaxSafety is conducting enhanced active surveillance of Shingrix^® across Australia to provide reassurance that the short-term safety profile of the vaccine is consistent with previous surveillance activities.

To collect data, AusVaxSafety distributes a short online survey via SMS or email to individuals who received their Shingrix^® vaccine at a participating AusVaxSafety site, allowing participants to report any adverse events they may have experienced in the days following vaccination. 

De-identified data from completed surveys are analysed and monitored by epidemiologists and vaccine experts to ensure that the vaccine is performing as safely and effectively as expected.

Shingrix^® vaccine safety data will be published on the AusVaxSafety website and updated monthly once enough data are collected to allow meaningful analysis.

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