Quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVs) provide protection against the two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and both co-circulating influenza B lineages. QIVs have been found safe, immunogenic, and efficacious in several phase III clinical trials. Here we assess the safety of QIV after vaccination in Vietnamese infants, children, and adults. Participants (n = 228) were asked to report any solicited adverse events (AEs) occurring within 7 days, unsolicited non-serious AEs occurring within 28 days post-vaccination, and serious adverse events (SAEs) at any time during the study. The study was completed by 224 participants (97.4%). Thirty-one children (39.7%) aged 6 - 35 months, 32 children (40.0%) aged 3 - 8 years, 2 participants (9.0%) aged 9 - 17 years, 5 participants (17.9%) aged 18 - 60 years, and 3 participants (15.0%) aged ≥60 years reported ≥1 solicited reaction within 7 days following vaccination. The most frequent-solicited AEs were injection-site tenderness or pain, appetite loss, fever, and abnormal crying in 6 - 35 month-olds, and fever, headache, and myalgia in other age groups. No severe-unsolicited AEs or vaccine-related SAEs were reported. These results suggest that QIV is well tolerated across age groups in Vietnam, and can be safely used to protect the Vietnamese population against influenza and its potentially serious complications.
Keywords: Influenza vaccine; Vietnam; adverse event; adverse reaction; clinical trial; seasonal influenza.