Profile of Serious and Non-Serious Adverse Effects Following Immunization (AEFI) of Measles Rubella Vaccine

Abstract

Background: The measles rubella immunization campaign conducted in 2017 on the island of Java has replaced the previous measles immunization, and its administration is carried out at 9-12 months of age and 18 months of age. As a new vaccine, the administration of MR vaccine cannot be separated from AEFI. Objective: We aimed to study the AEFI profile of MR vaccine administration by passive surveillance from the first campaign of MR vaccine in East Java Province. Methods: Our study was a retrospective observational study (surveillance survey). The research was conducted from January - April 2021. Children who received the first dose of the MR vaccine in the MR campaign at all age were enrolled in the study. We divide the group of serious and non-serious AEFI. The sample were collected using randomized sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect the demographic details of the children and the characteristic of the AEFI’s symptoms. Results: The total sample is 43 children with serious AEFI, consisted of 22 (51.2%) males and 21 (48.8%) females. The most common AEFI reported was fever (76.7%), followed by gastrointestinal symptoms (60%), local reactions (25%), respiratory tract symptoms (23.2%), central nervous system symptoms (11.6%), and rash (6.9%).Conclusion: Fever is the most frequently reported symptom. Most of the AEFI symptoms didn’t had causal relationship with MR vaccine. Thrombocytopenia is known to have a causal relationship as a reaction to the MR vaccine.