Adverse reaction caused by rabies vaccine in China: a Meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a Meta-analysis on the rate of adverse reaction related to rabies vaccine, so as to provide reference for rabies vaccine immunization in China. Methods: We electronically searched databases including CNKI, VIP information resource integration service platform, WanFang Data, CBM, PubMed and The Cochrane Library, to collect studies on Chinese people who had received full rabies vaccination and recording all the adverse reactions, from January 2000 to July 2016. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were strictly followed. Meta-analysis for the adverse reaction rate was performed using the R software. Results: A total of 29 related papers had met the inclusion criteria, with no publication bias noticed. A total number of 11 020 cases had adverse reactions, among all the 94 222 respondents, with an incidence of adverse reactions as 1.04%-47.78%. The overall incidence rate of adverse reaction was 9.82% (95%CI: 7.58%-12.72%). A combined local adverse reaction rate appeared as 12.05% (95% CI: 9.26%-15.69%). The systemic adverse reaction rate was 9.06% (95%CI: 7.07%-11.61%). The overall adverse reaction rate on aqueous vaccine was 32.39% (95%CI: 21.88%-47.94%). Combined adverse reaction rate of freeze dried vaccine appeared as 8.65% (95%CI: 4.54%-16.51%). Significant differences were seen between both groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: The local adverse reaction rate caused by rabies vaccination was higher than the systemic adverse reaction rate. The adverse reaction rate of aqueous rabies vaccine was higher than that of freeze dried rabies vaccine. Our results suggested that the aqueous vaccine should gradually be eliminated.