VCH Flu Vaccine Safety Study
Dr. Grant Stiver, from the Division of Infectious Diseases is conducting a study to monitor side effects that may occur following immunization with the 2011 influenza vaccine. The study is sponsored by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
What is the reason for this study?
Influenza vaccine is modified annually to match the circulating virus. While the influenza vaccine is generally safe, some unexpected side effects may occur. This study monitors and examines the safety of influenza vaccine in Health Care Workers (HCW). Over the past two years, several thousand HCW across Canada have participated in a web-based active surveillance following vaccination with the pandemic vaccine (2009) and/or the seasonal vaccine (2010).
Who can participate?
You may participate in the study if you have an active email address, are employed at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) or UBC Hospital (UBCH), are 19 years of age or older, and will receive the 2011 influenza vaccination.
How to enroll in the study
Sign a consent form available at every Staff Influenza Immunization Clinic at VGH and UBCH. If you plan on being vaccinated by your family doctor or at another clinic, please contact kenna@interchange.ubc.ca so a consent form can be emailed to you.
What is involved?
Your email address will be forwarded to the Canadian company SimpleSurvey. SimpleSurvey will automatically send a message to your email address Day 3, Day 8, and Day 29 following the day of your vaccination. You will be asked to report your age, gender, occupation, influenza vaccination history for 2009 and 2010 and whether you experienced any side effects from vaccination on Day 8 and/or Day 29. You may also be contacted by phone by VGH Research Coordinator, Kenna Sleigh, if you experienced side effects severe enough to cause you to miss work or seek medical attention.
How will confidentiality be maintained?
The research staff will keep all information that is learned about you confidential, unless release is required by law. Information collected about you will be identified by a code number. Only study staff at VGH will have access to study records which contain information that may directly identify you.
When does this study take place?
You may enroll the day you are immunized, until Dec. 23, 2011.
Where does this study take place/location?
Staff Influenza Immunization Clinics and over email.
Who can I contact?
Dr. Kenna Sleigh, at 604-875-4111-69771 or via email kenna@interchange.ubc.ca
For additional information on influenza immunization please visit:
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile12c.stm
UBC CREB Approval: #H09-02704