With an increased focus on personal health, vaccine safety is top of mind for many around the world. The Global One Health initiative (GOHi) in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) is directing efforts to monitor adverse events following immunization and collecting data to support ways to ensure global vaccine safety.

GOHi recently conducted a sensitization meeting with 25 clinical staff members at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College along with representatives from the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization. The objective was to create awareness about adverse events following immunization and vaccine safety surveillance to improve the quality and effectiveness of immunization programs. The meeting also allowed GOHi to share updates about its project regarding hospital-based sentinel surveillance of adverse events of special interest (AESI) in collaboration with the EFDA.

Data gathered through surveillance methods on immunization practices at both hospitals is being analyzed and will be shared with key stakeholders to determine future strategies that would standardize methodologies, reduce risk and prevent adverse effects of vaccines.