[H1N1 influenza vaccines in Tunisia: efficiency and safety]

Abstract

Objective: We carried out this study in order to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of the two H1N1 vaccines available in Tunisia: Focetria(®) and Panenza(®).

Methods: It's a prospective epidemiological study including 601 vaccinated subjects. The vaccine effectiveness was based on the occurrence of flu clinical symptoms after vaccination. The safety was based on the occurrence of unexpected events after vaccines administration. The vaccines imputability was established according to Begaud et al. method.

Results: The number of subjects vaccinated by Focetria(®) is more important than Panenza(®). The efficiency of vaccines would be 93.6%. Neither the medical statue nor the type of the vaccine used influence the occurrence of a flu episode after vaccination. We recorded 406 adverse effects (32.4%) with a high score of imputability (I3). Focetria(®) adverse effects were more frequent than Panenza(®) ones (p = 0.009). Almost all adverse events disappeared within few days.

Conclusion: The two vaccines used in Tunisia remain enough efficient to face the influenza (H1N1) pandemia and are well tolerated independently of the demographic and pathological statue of the vaccinated person as well as nature of the vaccine used.