COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs)

Vaccine providers play an important role in informing those receiving vaccines about common vaccine side effects and how to manage these if needed. Though uncommon, potential serious adverse events following immunization (AEFI) can also occur.

The following resources help to support providers in providing relevant information to those receiving vaccines, as well as when and how to report AEFIs.

AEFI case report form

WHAT: Report of Adverse Event Following Immunization

AUDIENCE: B.C. community vaccine providers

USE: Providers should report adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) to public health. This resource is an abbreviated version of the standard AEFI Case Report Form, however intended for community vaccine providers (i.e., non-public health professionals).

Identifying and managing adverse events

Providers who are involved with administering COVID-19 vaccines can prepare themselves to identify, manage, and report adverse events following an immunization by reviewing the following resources.

WHAT: Summary of AEFI Reporting Criteria for COVID-19 Vaccination for older children, adolescents and adults

AUDIENCE: Immunizers and health professionals

USE: A summary document providing criteria for the reporting of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination.

Anaphylaxis

WHAT: BC Immunization Manual, Part 3 - Management of Anaphylaxis in a Non-Hospital Setting Decision Tool - BCCDC

AUDIENCE: Immunizers for COVID-19 vaccines

USE: Comprehensive decision support tool reviewing anaphylaxis, fainting, anxiety, allergic reaction and injection site reaction, epinephrine administration, emergency treatment, and documentation.

Clinical guidance for diagnosing and treating TTS/VITT

WHAT: Clinical care guidance on thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome(TTS)/ vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT)

AUDIENCE: BC Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists and other Healthcare Providers

USE: Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) (also known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia or VITT), is a rare, idiosyncratic life-threatening condition that can arise after COVID-19 vaccination with AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines (not reported with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines). This page helps guide screening, diagnosis and management of TTS/VITT.

Myocarditis/pericarditis in association with receipt of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

WHAT: Myocarditis/pericarditis in association with receipt of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

AUDIENCE: BC Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and other health care providers

USE: Information for health care providers regarding the potential association of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Monthly report on COVID-19 Vaccine AEFIs

WHAT: Reports of AEFIs in B.C.

AUDIENCE: Immunizers and health professionals

USE: Vaccine safety surveillance is conducted for all vaccines including the COVID-19 vaccines under a regulatory framework in B.C. These reports summarize COVID-19 vaccine adverse events following immunization (AEFI) reported to BCCDC from December 2020 to February 2023.

B.C. immunization program AEFI guidelines

‎WHAT: Adverse Events Following Immunization webpage - BCCDC

AUDIENCE: Immunizers for COVID-19 vaccines

USE: For supplemental information on criteria for reporting an adverse event, how to report an AEFI (including information on “if your patient experiences an adverse event” OR “if you observe or treat an anaphylactic episode”), and where to send an AEFI report.

WHAT: Part 5 - BC Immunization Manual: Adverse Events Following Immunization - BCCDC

AUDIENCE: Immunizers for COVID-19 vaccines

USE: Comprehensive document providing criteria for the reporting of adverse events, and to assist with the interpretation of adverse events following immunization and their implications for subsequent immunization.