title: Internet-based reporting to the vaccine adverse event reporting system: a more timely and complete way for providers to support vaccine safety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  On March 22, 2002, Internet-based reports (IBRs) were added to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) to allow rapid, expedited reporting of adverse events (AEs) in anticipation of wider use of counter-bioterrorism vaccines such as those against smallpox and anthrax.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of IBRs on the timeliness and completeness of vaccine AE reporting.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate timeliness and completeness, we compared the proportions of IBRs with non-Internet-based reports (NIBRs). Report interval was analyzed for timeliness and age at vaccination, birth date, and onset date for report completeness. To evaluate the impact of the smallpox vaccination program, we compared smallpox vaccine reports separately. Because influenza vaccine is the most widely used vaccine in adults each year, we compared influenza vaccine reports separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, VAERS received 54 364 NIBRs (85.8%) and 9008 IBRs (14.2%). Sixteen percent (1455) of IBRs followed smallpox vaccination. Overall, for all vaccines and for smallpox vaccine alone, IBRs had a greater proportion of completeness and a shorter report interval. The proportion of most frequently reported AEs did not differ between IBRs and NIBRs. A higher proportion of adults (18-64 years old) who received influenza vaccine chose to complete an IBR (62% vs 48%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The improved timeliness and completeness of IBRs allow VAERS to more rapidly detect new or rare vaccine AEs. This important advantage is critical in times of increased public concern about vaccine safety. Clinical vaccine providers should be aware of VAERS and use IBRs whenever feasible to report vaccine AEs.
authors.affiliation: Immunization Safety Office, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop D-26, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. phaber@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Penina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haber
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iskander
authors.forename: Kimp
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Katrin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kohl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D007223:Infant; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines