AusVaxSafety commences routine surveillance of 2024 seasonal influenza vaccines

With 2024 seasonal influenza (‘flu’) vaccines now available across Australia, AusVaxSafety has commenced active surveillance to monitor the safety of the vaccines in near-real time.

AusVaxSafety sends out a short online survey via SMS or email to individuals (or their parents/carers) who receive their flu vaccine at AusVaxSafety sites across Australia – which include participating general practitioners, Aboriginal Medical Services and pharmacies – allowing participants to report any side effects they may have experienced after vaccination.

Epidemiologists and vaccine experts analyse and monitor de-identified data from completed surveys to ensure that vaccines are performing as safely as expected in real-world conditions.

These data offer a profile of what to expect in the days following flu vaccination and are an excellent resource for immunisation providers when counselling patients on flu vaccination.

AusVaxSafety has monitored the safety of flu vaccines administered to Australians of all ages since 2017. Since then, more than 1 million people (or their parents/carers) have provided  details about any side effects experienced after flu vaccination.

Flu vaccine data will be available on the AusVaxSafety website from the week commencing 1 April 2024 and will be updated weekly for the duration of the 2024 flu season.