FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF NATIONAL AEFI COMMITTEE - 2016 – A REPORT
Fourth annual meeting of National AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) Committee – 2016 was held at Population Foundation of India, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi on 25th November, 2016 at 2 PM. The Meeting was chaired by Dr N K Arora, Chairperson, National AEFI Committee and Director INCLEAN and coordinated by Dr. M K Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner (UIP), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The meeting was attended by Officers from WHO, Faculty of Paediatrics and Forensic Medicines of different Medical Colleges and representatives IAP and TNAI. IMA was represented by Dr N V Kamat, Principal Advisor (IMA).
The discussion focused on:
- Action Taken Report on the last meeting minutes held on 9th September at Raipur.
- Update on National AEFI Surveillance Programme.
- Update on Causality Assessment of reported AEFI cases.
- Update on reported AEFI cases (2012-2015) with inadequate information and ineligibility for causality assessment.
- Update on preparation of NRA assessment.
It was found that in 2016, 1035 cases of AEFI are reported from 235 districts, out of which 738 cases are reported from 21 clusters. Causality assessment of these cases is on.
WHO has also developed a Vaccine Adverse Events Information Management System (VAEIMS). Presently, this software is piloted in West Bengal (all districts) and Madhya Pradesh (17 district in 1st phase and 34 districts in 2nd phase). It will be introduced in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in 2017 (Q1) and in all other states by 2018(Q2).
Training of Medical and Nursing professionals shall be trained for the implementation of this programme. IAP and IMA shall play an important role in training and implementation of this programme, especially at private sector.
Dr N V Kamat
Principal Advisor, IMA ( HQ)
Formerly, Director Health Services, Govt of Delhi