Vaccination and 30-Day Mortality Risk in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the potential association of vaccination and death in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). METHODS:The study cohort included individuals ages 9 to 26 years with deaths between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2011. We implemented a case-centered method to estimate a relative risk (RR) for death in days 0 to 30 after vaccination.Deaths due to external causes (accidents, homicides, and suicides) were excluded from the primary analysis. In a secondary analysis, we included all deaths regardless of cause. A team of physicians reviewed available medical records and coroner's reports to confirm cause of death and assess the causal relationship between death and vaccination. RESULTS:Of the 1100 deaths identified during the study period, 76 (7%) occurred 0 to 30 days after vaccination. The relative risks for deaths after any vaccination and influenza vaccination were significantly lower for deaths due to nonexternal causes (RR 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.83, and RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.24-0.80, respectively) and deaths due to all causes (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56-0.91, and RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-0.65). No other individual vaccines were significantly associated with death. Among deaths reviewed, 1 cause of death was unknown, 25 deaths were due to nonexternal causes, and 34 deaths were due to external causes. The causality assessment found no evidence of a causal association between vaccination and death.CONCLUSIONS: Risk of death was not increased during the 30 days after vaccination, and no deaths were found to be causally associated with vaccination.

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“…These reported frequencies are similar to those observed with overall U.S. infant mortality data and among recipients of other recommended childhood vaccines ( 128 ). Two recent VSD studies do not suggest a causal relation or increased risk for death following vaccination of any type ( 129 , 130 ).…”

Addressing HPV vaccine myths: practical information for healthcare providers

“…That study found no association between vaccination and death within that 30-day window, for any vaccines evaluated. 110 No evidence of increased autoimmune and neurological conditions Numerous large studies have been conducted to evaluate the potential for increased risk of autoimmune disease after HPV vaccination. These include evaluations of nearly 350,000 HPV vaccine dose administrations, 111 270,000 girls, 112 568,000 boys, 113 nearly 1,000,000 adolescent females aged 10-17 years 114 and 3,100,000 adult females aged 18-44 years 115 .…”

Vaccination against Paediatric Respiratory Pathogens

“…Influenza is a common disease that causes annual epidemics, leading to medical, social and economic problems [23,24]. Together with the elderly population, children under 5 years of age, even in the absence of underlying chronic diseases, have the highest risk of severe disease leading to hospitalization and, although rarely, to death [25].…”