A feasibility assessment of real-world data capabilities for monitoring vaccine safety and effectiveness in China: Human papillomavirus vaccination in the Yinzhou district as a use case.

Abstract

Real-world data (RWD) are increasingly used to generate real-world evidence (RWE) of vaccine safety and effectiveness for regulatory purposes. Assessing feasibility of using RWD sources prior to implementing observational studies is recommended. As a use case, we described the process and findings of a feasibility assessment to identify reliable and relevant data sources for monitoring the safety and effectiveness of the AS04-HPV-16/18 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in China. Iterative multi-step process: (1) targeted literature review and data source mapping; (2) expert opinion from national RWD experts; (3) survey to evaluate the identified data source operational infrastructure; and (4) continuous appraisal of published studies using the identified data source. The Yinzhou Regional Health Information Platform (YRHIP) was identified as a data source of main interest, based on its large population coverage, high cervical cancer screening rates, and availability of adult electronic immunization records. Field meetings with national RWD experts confirmed its suitability for post-authorization vaccine studies. Survey results showed that exposure data and relevant safety and effectiveness endpoints were recorded and linkable at the individual level across the platform. Iterative appraisal of emerging evidence from the literature corroborated these findings. This feasibility assessment indicates that the YRHIP has the capacity to capture demographic, exposure, outcome and other data required to generate RWE on HPV vaccine safety and effectiveness in China. Studies using the YRHIP to monitor the AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine in routine use building on this feasibility assessment are ongoing.