Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) Reporting for All Health Care Practitioners in Alberta

Note: The reporting information below is for health care practitioner use only. If you are a member of the general public and need to report an adverse event following immunization, please call Health Link at 811 or contact your health provider.

You have a crucial role in monitoring vaccine safety in Alberta…

Step 1

Advise patients to contact you if they have an adverse event after immunization.

Step 2

Report the adverse event to Alberta Health Services (AHS) Provincial AEFI Team

Please do NOT report immunization errors on this form

How?

Complete and submit the AEFI report form.

OR

If unable to complete the form, call 1-855-444-2324 (1-855-444-CDCI)

Note:

  • The reporting information below is for health care practitioner use only
  • The general public may report an adverse event following immunization by calling Health Link at 811 or by contacting their health provider

Why?

There is a new law in Alberta.

As of December 17, 2018 any health care practitioner (HCP) who becomes aware of an adverse event following any immunization must report the event to the AHS Provincial AEFI Team.

What Needs to be Reported?

Anything that meets the definition of an AEFI.

An AEFI is defined as an unfavourable health occurrence experienced by a patient that:

  • Follows immunization
  • Cannot be attributed to a pre-existing condition and
  • Meets one or more of the following as determined by a health practitioner:
    • A life-threatening health occurrence that requires hospitalization or urgent medical attention.
    • The health occurrence is unusual or unexpected that:
      • Has not previously been identified; or
      • Has been previously identified but has increased frequency
    • The health occurrence cannot be explained by the patient’s medical history, recent disease or illness or consumption of medication.

When?

You have three days.

Adverse Events Following Immunization must be reported to the AHS AEFI team within three (3) days of the health practitioner determining or being informed that a patient has had an AEFI that has not yet been reported.

For additional information, please refer to the Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Policy for Alberta Immunization Providers.