AEFI and the pentavalent vaccine: looking for a composite picture

  • 30/06/2013

  • Indian Journal of Medical Ethics

On May 4, 2013, the ministry of health of VietNam suspended Quinvaxem, the pentavalent combination used in that country, after it had caused 12 deaths and nine non-fatal serious adverse events (3). On investigating the reactions caused by the vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the nine non-fatal cases could correspond to known vaccine reactions, but the fatal cases were not related to the use of the vaccine. “Quinvaxem was prequalified by WHO … no fatal adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) has ever been associated with this vaccine,” the report asserts, wrongly.