Some factors influencing underreporting of suspected vaccine side effects

Abstract

Reporting suspected adverse reactions allows monitoring of vaccine safety and identification of new, rare or serious adverse reactions that may not have been observed during clinical trials. When an adverse reaction is suspected, health professionals have a legal obligation and patients have the opportunity to report it to the relevant bodies such as the Croatian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices in order to contribute to a broader understanding of the potential risks and benefits of vaccines. Improving patient education, communication, trust and empowerment may be key to encouraging adverse event reporting and thus improving vaccine safety and consequently greater acceptance of vaccination.